Diplomats from France, Spain and Sweden have met Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz chief Nawaz Sharif at his Raiwind farm to try to stop him from boycotting the January 8 elections. His party sources said the elections topped their discussion. Sharif told the diplomats about his party stance and the All Parties Democratic Movement (APDM).
The reinstatement of the judiciary also surfaced at the meeting, the sources said, adding that former premier also expressed his reservations about the transparency of polls.
The diplomats were Regisde Belent of France, Jose Maria Robles Fraga of Spain and Jarin Enestrom of Sweden. After the meeting, Enestrom told reporters that the European Union (EU) was closely reviewing the situation and hoped the polls will be transparent, fair and free.
Sharif told the reporters that the Alliance for Restoration of Democracy (ARD) and the All Parties Democratic Movement (APDM) failed to evolve a consensus on the judiciary in its charter of demands. He said there was a difference of opinion because his party wanted deposed judges reinstated while the Pakistan People's Party was pressing for the freedom of the judiciary. He added that Benazir Bhutto had gone to Dubai without finalising a draft of the demands because her party wanted cut-off dates to accept the charter after the elections. But he said his party wanted the same before the elections. "The PML-N has same stance as of lawyers while the PPP has different opinion," he added. He said Ms Bhutto should have gone to Dubai after she finalised the charter.
The drafting committee of the two alliances has reached a consensus on most of the demands sans the judges' reinstatement. The joint committee has a consensus on 13 points but remained undecided on two.
German Ambassador Dr Gunter Mulack also met Nawaz Sharif. Party sources said Sharif had decided to intensify his mass contact campaign and hold public meetings in different parts of the country apart from addressing members of district bar associations and the civil society. Sharif is addressing public meetings in Sheranwala Bagh Gujranwala on December 8, Faisalabad on 10 and Sialkot on 12. He will also address his party candidates.