PML-N now ready to show flexibility over judges issue as a 'face saving formula'

Islamabad, Apr 28 : As the April 30 deadline for restoration of judges in Pakistan is less than 48 hours away, the PML-N, which has been till now pressing hard for restoration of judges sacked by Musharraf last year, has come into flexible mode as a face saving formula.

A key PML-N leader said that the party needed to show some flexibility because they have to fulfill the promise which they made to the people prior to the February 18 polls.

"The PML-N will show more flexibility on the constitutional package if the judges are reinstated within the April 30 deadline, as we need to save face before the people," The News quoted the PML-N leader as saying.

He said that the major controversy remains on the PPP's insistence to bring the package and the resolution on the judges' restoration simultaneously in the National Assembly, the source maintained.

At the same time, two other coalition partners of the government, the Awami National Party (ANP) and the Jamiat-e-Ulema Islam-Fazl (JUI-F), have not been taken into confidence over the constitutional package or about the exact timing of bringing a resolution to reinstate the judges, said an article in The News.

Both these smaller parties have their own demands to be presented before the two leading ones when the constitutional package is presented before them, it added.

"The PML-N will seek some arrangements to de-link the constitutional package from the resolution so that the differences are hammered out separately. Definitely, we are flexible and will be more in case the PPP accepts our major demand of meeting the deadline," the paper quoted the unnamed PML-N leader as saying.

"The PML-N will back the PPP in fixing the tenure of the judges in the constitutional package in case our demand of April 30 is accepted by Asif Ali Zardari and it is de-linked from the resolution," added the PML-N leader.

There was still a deadlock mainly on the PPP's wish to link both the resolution and the package and bring these together, he said and added: "If we accept their demand for fixing the tenure of the chief justice up to three years, it means he is not reinstated."

ANI