Top leadership of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz which met at the party Quaid, Nawaz Sharif's Raiwind residence on Friday finalised matters concerning formation of the PML-N led coalition government in the Punjab and also evolved future strategy with particular reference to performance of the PML-N ministers.
The meeting also discussed the issues of restoration of deposed judges, PPP-MQM relations and future political set up in the Punjab. The recent statement of Defence Minister, Chaudhry Ahmed Mukhtar concerning President Pervez Musharraf also came under discussion and most of the participants expressed strong reservations over working with Musharraf, sources told Business Recorder.
According to them, the meeting also finalised the names of new Punjab Chief Minister for interim set up, speaker, deputy speaker and provincial ministers in the new Punjab government.
Among others, the meeting was attended by Mian Nawaz Sharif, Raja Zafar ul Haq, Makhdoom Javaid Hashmi, Mian Shahbaz Sharif, Federal Ministers, Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, Khawaja Mohammad Asif, Tehmina Daultana, Mehtab Abbasi, Khawaja Saad Rafique, Ishaq Dar and others.
Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif told a private TV channel that Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) were committed to restoring all deposed judges in line with their March 9, Murree Declaration.
Nawaz said, "Definitely, the deposed judges would be restored within 30 days." He said the two parties had no reservations with regard to the judiciary issue and hopefully the Accord would be implemented in its letter and spirit. He said that legal experts were preparing a draft resolution on the issue for the parliament.
To a question, Nawaz dispelled the impression that a constitutional amendment could be moved in the parliament under which a parliamentary committee would be formed to make a decision about restoration of November 2 judiciary. He, however, clarified that a constitutional amendment would be introduced in the parliament in the light of 'Charter of Democracy' (CoD) with the aim of reviewing rules and regulations concerning appointment of judges and judicial independence.
Nawaz said that the PPP and PML-N were unanimous on the proposed constitutional amendment in accordance with the CoD to further promote democratic norms in the country.
The sources said Sardar Dost Mohammad Khosa, son of the PML-N Punjab President, would be the new chief minister for interim period till Shahbaz Sharif is elected as MPA and becomes Chief Executive of the province. For the prestigious slot of Speaker Punjab Assembly, the name of Rana Mohammad Iqbal, MPA from Pattoki has been finalised. For the office of Deputy Speaker, either Rana Mushhood or Chaudhry Ghafoor may be nominated.
The new Punjab Cabinet would be comprised of 24 ministers and three advisors. Among the ministers, there would be 15 ministers of the PML-N, 7 of PPP and one each of MMA and PML-F.
The sources claimed that for the advisorship, the names of Begum Najma Hamid, Mohsin Latif and Zulifqar Badr are almost final. For the provincial ministers, the names of Dr Saeed Elahi, Colonel Shuja Khanzada (Retd), Nadeem Kamran, Ayaz Chaudhry, Shahzadi Umer Tiwana, Nawaz Malik, Karam Ali Bandial, Chaudhry Shafique Anwar, Ramzan Gill, Haji Nasir, Asghar Munda and four others have been finalised.
From the PPP side, the names of Raja Mohammad Riaz, Pir Nazim Hussein Shah, Ashraf Sohna, Aman ullah Dreshak, Tariq Yousaf, Uzma Bukhari and Raja Tariq Kayani have been proposed. From MMA and PML-F, the names of Ali Nawaz Niazi and Makhdoom Ahmed Alam have almost been final.
A three-member PPP committee comprising Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, Chaudhry Ahmed Mukhtar and Raja Mohammad Riaz is holding a meeting with PML-N parliamentary leader in the Punjab Assembly, Shahbaz Sharif on Saturday to finalise the strategy for the Punjab assembly session scheduled for April 9 and government formation in the Punjab. The portfolios of PPP ministers are expected to be finalised in this meeting.
Earlier, Education Minister, Ahsan Iqbal told reporters that Murree Declaration is guiding force for both the PPP and the PML-N and all the deposed judges including Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry would be restored within stipulated period as promised in the declaration. He made it clear that judiciary would be restored as on November 2 position.
Answering a question, he said his party had reservation on MQM vis-à-vis May 12 incidents and when this party did not accept restoration of judges, how could it become part of the coalition set up. Minister for Culture, Khawaja Saad Rafique told reporters that they would restore the judiciary within stipulated period of 30 days as promised in Murree Declaration.
To a question, he said if the MQM wants to join the national mainstream, it should apologise for the May 12 incidents. He said the PPP and MQM are holding negotiations for the formation of coalition government in Sindh. He also said that the country's affairs could never be run under Musharraf.