PML-Q dubs May 12 deadline as a repetition of earlier one

Islamabad, May 3 : Erstwhile ruling party in Pakistan and now the main Opposition party, the PML-Q has said that the new PPP-PML-N coalition government in Islamabad was a confused lot over the issue of restoration of judges issue, and termed the fresh deadline of May 12 set for restoring the judges as a "mere repetition" of the earlier April 30 deadline.

PML-Q parliamentary leader Faisal Saleh Hayat said that if the federal government plans to restore the suspended judges it would have to get it passed by a special resolution and merely a simple resolution won't solve the purpose. He said that the government would have to follow the laid down procedure for the purpose.

"It was our party's stance that the deposed judges could not be restored through a simple resolution in the National Assembly or an executive order as the judiciary has already given a legal cover to it, and if they want to bring any change in the Constitution, they will have to follow the procedure," The News quoted Hayat as saying.

About his party's reaction to the new May 12 deadline, Faisal said that it seemed that the coalition government was confused on the issue. If they wanted to bring a resolution or any constitutional package why then they were not able to bring it and should tell what hurdles were in their way, he added.

"We want that they should come out of this issue and concentrate on real issues of the people who are facing price hike and load shedding," he said and added that after the expiry of April 30 deadline the government brought another deadline for this purpose.

When asked whether the PML-Q would support the resolution for the restoration of the deposed judges, he said the opposition was not consulted on the issue and even they have not yet decided whether they would bring a resolution or any package, so the opposition would make its mind when anything in writing comes before it.

ANI