Pakistan Muslim League (N) has refused to accept any other option or 'Middle Way' except the reinstatement of judges to their November 2, 2007 position. The PML-N leadership informed the members of the ruling coalition's Special Reconciliatory Committee that the deposed judges will be reinstated following Islamabad Declaration.
They were talking to the committee members here on Thursday in Punjab House where they handed over the recommendations for restoration of judiciary to PML-N leadership. The Special Committee comprises Asfandyar Wali Khan, President Awami National Party (ANP), Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI) chief Maulana Fazal-ur-Rehman and Munir Khan Orakzai, MNA from Fata.
PML-N leaders who were present in the meeting were Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, Ishaq Dar, Ahsan Iqbal and Khawaja Asif. During the talks the Special Committee insisted the PML-N leadership to lay the foundation of an independent judiciary on the basis of Charter of Democracy, signed in London, rather than Islamabad Declaration.
The committee members informed the PML-N of PPP desire to curtail the powers of Chief Justice of Pakistan especially taking back the right of suo motu action.
The committee has already handed over its proposals on restoration of deposed judges to PPP and both the parties will submit their response to the committee within next 24-hours. Talking to media after the meeting Asfandyar Wali Khan, ANP chief said that they discussed the matter related to reinstatement of deposed judges with PML-N leadership. But they denied any possibility of considering the minus-one formula.
Maulana Fazal-ur-Rehman told reporters that the committee wanted to resolve the issue amicably and for the purpose it has forwarded its recommendations to both major components of the coalition. "We have completed our task and will wait for the response of the PPP and PML-N leadership till Friday," he said.
Meanwhile, the PML-N leadership turned down the demand saying that all the deposed judges will be reinstated as per the Islamabad Declaration. PML-N Information Secretary Ahsan Iqbal said that his party has received committee's propositions, saying that PML (N) will not tolerate any middle way for the resolution of judicial crisis. He declared that there is no need for the resignation of the deposed CJ Iftikhar Chaudhry and urged the committee to make sure the implementation of Islamabad Declaration.