The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz leadership has made it clear to the coalition partners that the future of the present coalition is linked with restoration of deposed judges, who if, were not reinstated after a Friday deadline, the PML-N would have no choice but to pull out of the coalition.
Sources in the PML-N told Business Recorder on Thursday that the PML-N leadership had given clear message to the Pakistan Peoples Party leadership for judges' restoration in accordance with the Murree and Islamabad Declarations. PML-N Quaid Nawaz Sharif remained at his Raiwind farm on Thursday and continued consultations with his close aides sources claimed, adding he also met a delegation of party activists.
The PML-N Quaid, in an interview with a foreign journal, said that he would not like to see the disintegration of the governing coalition, which was formed to strengthen democracy, the rule of law and to restore the Constitution and judges. "I would very much like to see this coalition stay in tact. I would be the last person who wants to see it disintegrating," Nawaz said.
"Pervez Musharraf threw the judges out of office. He ridiculed the institution", Nawaz said, adding: "If these institution were not restored, it will shake the foundations of this country", he said. About the next president, Nawaz said in the interview that it should be someone from outside the two main parties. Nawaz has put forward the name of Ataullah Khan Mengal, a well-known politician from Balochistan.
On the other hand, PML-N spokesman Siddiqul Farooq said that priority of his party and the entire nation was the restoration of judges. "Role of judiciary is more important than presidency because the president is a part of the parliament, but the judiciary is a major pillar of the state," he said. He said that the judges would be restored, and added: "Our party meeting is in progress and we are hopeful for positive result."
Moreover, PML-N Secretary General International Affairs Sheikh Kaiser Mehmood said that future of ruling coalition was linked with the independence of judiciary and restoration of deposed judges.
Addressing a party meeting here on Thursday, he stressed the need for adhering to Murree Declaration to restore peoples' confidence in the government and addressing the issue of price hike. He said the objective of reinstatement of judges and independence of judiciary could not be achieved without supremacy of parliament.
Sheikh Kaiser said the PML-N would never compromise on principles, adding: "It is not necessary to be in the government to serve masses. We have been serving masses despite being in opposition during the last eight years." Terming price spiral, injustice and uncertainty as gifts of despotic rule, he said: "We are determined to provide every possible relief to people and would leave no stone unturned in this regard."
Lauding enthusiasm of lawyers, he said the PML-N not only fully supported their struggle, but would also remain with them at every stage. He said people were now fully awoke and determined to safeguard national institutions, including parliament and judiciary as such no conspiracy to subvert peoples' mandate in the province would succeed. He said if raising voice for the independence of judiciary and reinstatement of judges was crime, the PML-N would continue to commit this crime.
He regretted that Pervez Musharraf and his cronies were not ready to see the Punjab moving fast on the road to progress and prosperity under the able leadership of Mian Shahbaz Sharif. PML-N Central Finance Secretary Muhammad Pervez Malik said that democratic forces, with the support of masses, had made an example of Pervez Musharraf.
He said: "Pervez Musharraf's shameful end is natural retribution", and added that Musharraf would have to face the law for his misdeeds and account for violating the Constitution, derailing democracy, destroying economy of the country and killing thousands of innocent people, including Nawaz Akbar Bugti.
He said Pervez Musharraf kept on damaging national interests and unity for personal gains and had nothing to his credit on the basis of which he could be given safe passage. He said Pervez Musharraf had raised slogan of accountability, but used it as a tool to change loyalties of politicians and now it was his turn for accountability.
He said it was the time to restore the November 2, 2007 judiciary, as Pervez Musharraf was the impediment in its way, which now stood removed. The legal fraternity would stand behind the government on all its decisions and legal actions and help it continue with constitutional authority if it would fulfil the promise of judge's restoration without any delay, he said.