Pak coalition set to restore deposed judges

Islamabad, Apr 16 (UNI) Pakistani coalition government is all set to restore deposed judges of superior judiciary during the current session of the National Assembly (NA).

While top leaders of the ruling coalition, mainly comprising Pakistan Peoples' Party (PPP) and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) were tight lipped about the timing of the restoration, it was learnt that a resolution approving reinstatement will be tabled next week in the NA.

The judges including former chief justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry were sacked after they refused to take fresh oath of allegiance to President Pervez Musharraf following imposition of the state of emergency in the country on November 3 last year.

The two parties, which reached a power sharing deal in March, had agreed to restore judges through parliamentary resolution.

PPP co-chairperson Asif Ali Zardari, PML(N) chief Nawaz Sharif and other coalition partners, who met along with their aides in Islamabad yesterday reiterated their commitment to their accord on judges issue and their restoration to pre-November 3 positions.

UNI XC SKB KP1250