Zardari, Nawaz swear by Murree Declaration
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari and Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) Quaid Mian Nawaz Sharif on Tuesday reaffirmed their resolve to reinstate the deposed judges through a resolution in the National Assembly within the timeframe stipulated in the Murree Declaration.
They also announced setting up of a broad-based committee to give final shape to proposals on restoring the judges in consultation with the legal fraternity. The committee would comprise members from both the parties as well as legal fraternity. However, they did not name the members of the committee, saying it would be announced after consultation.
The meeting between Asif Ali Zardari and Mian Nawaz Sharif here on Tuesday at the Punjab House was also attended by Law Minister Farooq H Naek, Adviser to the Prime Minister Rehman Malik, Minister for Labour, Manpower and Overseas Pakistanis Syed Khurshid Shah, PML-N President Shahbaz Sharif, PML-N Chairman Raja Zafarul Haq, Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources Khwaja Asif, PML-N Spokesman Siddiqul Farooq, Makhdoom Javed Hashmi and Minister for Communications Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan.
The negotiations between the senior partners of the ruling Pakistan Democratic Alliance started on Monday but remained inconclusive and both parties decided to meet again on Tuesday. After holding talks that lasted for two hours, Asif Ali Zardari and Mian Nawaz Sharif held a joint press conference, reaffirming their resolve to restore the deposed judges in line with the March 9 Murree Declaration.
“The political forces are in harmony and pursuing the legal process to implement the Murree Declaration in letter and spirit,” Asif Ali Zardari said. “We will bring a resolution for the restoration of judges soon to the National Assembly,” Mian Nawaz Sharif said.
In reply to a question, Zardari said, “We are devising a system to ensure that in future no judge gives verdicts in favour of a dictator.” In response to a question regarding the countdown about the implementation of the Murree Declaration, Zardari said, “I do not believe in countdown. Democracy means dialogue and consultation and this process has been moving forward in the right direction.”
The two leaders said it had been decided to constitute a committee to finalise the draft of a parliamentary resolution for the reinstatement of the deposed judges. Denying any deadlock between the coalition partners, they said, “We are examining the issue in the broader context for the sake of the country, the future of democracy and the judiciary. We are trying to change the system as we do not believe in the politics of revenge.”
Asif Zardari said political and democratic forces were in harmony to implement the decision reached at Murree. “A broad-based committee will give final shape to the resolution for the reinstatement of the deposed judges,” he said.
Zardari also hinted that a constitutional package would follow the resolution to ensure justice for all. The PPP co-chairman said efforts were under way to change the system so that any judge who extended support to a dictator in future could be taken to task.
Mian Nawaz Sharif said the PDA government fully stood by the Murree Declaration. “I categorically deny that there is any ‘deadlock’ over the judges’ restoration,” he added. Nawaz Sharif said the desire of certain people to break the coalition would not materialise. “Had there been any deadlock between us, we would not have met again,” he said. However, he admitted that there was difference of opinion, which was removed in Tuesday’s meeting.
When asked about repealing the Article 58-2(b) of the Constitution, Nawaz Sharif said, “I say it should be done immediately, but Zardari says we should exercise patience. Let’s see what happens.”
Zardari at this point observed that this would be done when possible. In reply to a question, Zardari said he wanted to tell the people and the lawyers that the democratic forces were united in implementing the Murree Declaration. “However, some people have different point of view and they have every right to do so,” he added.
When asked if he could befriend Nawaz Sharif who had sent him to jail, why he could not ‘forgive’ those judges who did not grant him bail, Zardari clarified that it was Leghari who had sent him to jail, not Mian Nawaz Sharif.
“The Army arrested me from the Governor House in Lahore when the democratic government was dismissed,” he added. Minister for Law and Justice Farooq H Naek, who read out the joint statement at the press conference, said there was complete harmony among the coalition partners on all issues, including the restoration of the deposed judges in accordance with the Murree Declaration. He condemned what he called was ‘the disinformation campaign’ by vested interests. The minister said a committee would give final shape to proposals to restore the deposed judges in consultation with the legal fraternity.
Source: The News
Date:4/23/2008
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