Pak coalition partners drafting a special package to check judicial activism

Islamabad, Aug 20 : The top hierarchy of the ruling federal alliance in Pakistan is said to be working to evolve a special constitutional reform package ensuring that there was "no judicial activism" in the future, but a truly independent judiciary to provide justice to all.

"The package will create a balance between the powers of the President and the Prime Minister," the Daily Times quoted sources privy to the developments as saying.

They said the package is aimed at bringing harmony between the pillars of state and is not related per se to the reform package put together by the PPP.

The sources added that the package would be acceptable to all stakeholders, including the sacked and incumbent judges.

PPP Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari is trying to convince other coalition partners to move "slowly and carefully" on the issue of the restoration of judiciary, the sources said and added that he had advocated a similar approach in ousting Pervez Musharraf.

The proposed package also includes some provisions on indemnifying Musharraf's steps to avoid constitutional complications in future, and was likely to include in the package the removal of Article 58(2b) which entails provisions empowering the President to dissolve the Assemblies.

Meanwhile, the sources said that the PPP, the ANP and the JUI-F and FATA parliamentarians are also pondering a new political dispensation if the PML-N does not accept the package and parts ways with the coalition.

ANI