Islamabad, May 4 (ANI): Pakistan People's Party (PPP) Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari has said that there is a complete consensus between himself and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) chief Nawaz Sharif over restoring the deposed judges on or by May 12.
Talking to reporters at Zardari House here on Saturday, Zardari claimed that the unity between the coalition partners was stronger than ever before.
"Any information about differences between PPP and PML-N over the judges' issue is baseless," The Nation quoted him, as saying.
Zardari said he had full confidence in Sharif and fully agreed with him on his announcement regarding the reinstatement of the judges on May 12.
The PPP, he said, was talking of or about reconciliation from day one and in Bhurban it was said that no judge would be disturbed.
"All the matters would be resolved gradually," he concluded.
"We do not need an NOC from the U.S. for restoring judges"
Meanwhile, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) chief Nawaz Sharif has said that there is no need for Pakistan to seek the approval of the United States on the issue of restoring judges who were sacked on November 3, 2007 by the President General Pervez Musharraf.
Speaking to reporters soon after his arrival in the British capital on Saturday afternoon, Sharif said he still had reservations regarding the continuance of judges appointed by Musharraf through a Provisional Constitutional Order (PCO), but had accepted the PPP's demand to retain them for the sake of reinstating deposed judges.
Sharif, who is here on a private visit, was quoted by The Nation as saying:
"We do not need an NOC from the U.S. for restoring judges."
Washington should not interfere in a matter that was an internal affair of Pakistan, he said, adding that he was trying his best to settle the judges' issue with PPP according to Murree Declaration.
Musharraf ready for dilution of powers, but wants to stay President with dignity
Islamabad, May 4 (ANI): Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf has reportedly indicated that he would agree to diluting some of his powers provided he was allowed to stay on with dignity and decide upon his time and method of departure.
Sources told the Daily Times that presidential aides were in contact with the government to work out a constitutional package acceptable to all stakeholders - Pakistan People's Party (PPP), Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Supreme Court (SC) judges, President and Army - for a working relationship between all institutions of the state.
The sources said the president was likely to agree to a proposal to dilute his discretionary powers to dissolve the assemblies. However, they said Article 58 (2b) would stay.
"The president's powers to use Article 58 (2b) would be made stringently subject to the approval of the SC and some guidelines may also be recommended for the apex court in case such a situation develops," the sources said.
Apparently, the president is not ready to abolish the National Security Council, but would agree to a proposal that the provincial governors be appointed on the advice of the prime minister rather than in consultation with him.
However, the sources said the president wanted to retain the powers to appoint the service chiefs.
"There is a disagreement on this issue. He wants the appointment of the services chiefs to the president's prerogative," the sources said.
It is understood that there is a willingness on the part of the stakeholders to fix the chief justice's tenure to a five-year term. "But the government does not want deposed judge Justice Javed Iqbal to be restored as this would diminish Justice Dogar's chances of becoming chief justice on completion of Justice Chaudhry's tenure," the sources said.
They said the president was already in a process of consultation with his legal advisers who were in contact with the government to prepare a mutually agreed constitutional package to end the deadlock on critical issues.
The government, the sources said, would soon take all coalition partners and the opposition parties into confidence to build a consensus on the constitutional amendments.
According to the paper, the date of May 12 for the restoration of the sacked judiciary was not cast iron and the issue could be dragged well beyond it if any of the above mentioned stakeholders was not on board any solution. (ANI)
