Issue of restoration of sacked judges might jolt ruling coalition in Pak

Islamabad, Apr 12 : The ruling coalition in Pakistan seems to be at the risk of being shaken, as the two largest parties - the PPP and the PML-N - are said to be at the loggerheads over the method of reinstating the sacked Supreme Court judges.

While the PPP has proposed setting up of a parliamentary committee to find the way how the deposed judges should be reinstated, the PML-N has strongly opposed the idea, saying that the judges should be reinstated directly without referring the matter to any parliamentary committee or bringing about a constitutional package.

PML-N leader Nisar Ali Khan said that his party was not in favour of restoring the judges through a parliamentary committee or a constitutional package. "I categorically say that our party is not in the favour of any parliamentary committee or constitutional package. It would further complicate the issue," the Daily Times quoted him as saying here last evening.

"There will be no compromise on the issue of judges' restoration. We will not move from our stance," he added.

PPP Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari and PML-N leader Nawaz Sharif are expected to meet early next week to discuss methods to address the issue, which could shake the ruling alliance if not addressed. PML-N members on Friday held a parliamentary meeting at the Parliament House, said the paper.

Nisar, also a senior cabinet minister in the coalition government, said, "There is no deadlock over the issue, but modalities are yet to be finalised as how to materialise the Bhurban Accord [Murree Declaration]."

He said the PPP and the PML-N had held a meeting on Thursday in which the PPP reiterated its commitment to restore the sacked judges. "The PPP reiterated yesterday that the issue will be resolved according to the Bhurban Accord, which does not mention the formation of a parliamentary committee or a constitutional package," he said.

Another PML-N leader Abid Sher Ali also voiced similar remarks and said the sacked judges could be restored through an executive order after a resolution in this regard is passed in parliament.

ANI