Nawaz puts restoration of judges rider before considering Zardari's Prez bid

Lahore, Aug 23 : PML-N leader and former Pakistan premier Nawaz Sharif has reportedly put a condition of restoration of "all deposed judges", including the deposed chief justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Chaudhry, before considering his party's support to PPP Co-chairman and presidential candidate Asif Ali Zardari.

Nawaz is learnt to have told a PPP delegation who had come to seek his support for Zardari, that the PPP Co-chairman should first fulfill his promise of restoring all sacked Supreme Court judges, including the former Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry, reported The News.

The PPP delegation that met Nawaz comprised of leader of the house Raza Rabbani, Federal Minister Sherry Rehman, Syed Khurshid Shah and Chief Minister Sindh Qaim Ali Shah.

Sources said that delegation had briefed Sharif about the decisions taken in the meeting of PPP central executive committee regarding issues of presidential election and restoration of deposed judges through parliament.

While Nawaz has been repeatedly demanding reinstatement of all Supreme Court judges, including deposed CJ, Zardari is learnt to be sticking to his "Minus One" formula which means reinstatement of all judges except Ifikhar Chaudhry.

ANI