Sharif ready to back Gilani if Zardari refuses to surrender power

Islamabad, Jan 14 (ANI): Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) chief Nawaz Sharif has stressed on the supremacy of parliament by saying he is ready to back Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani if President Asif Ali Zardari attempts to take back his power to dissolve the assemblies.

"If the presidency tries to create hurdles in our way, then the PML-N will extend its support to the Prime Minister," Sharif told reporters at the Punjab House here.

He said his party's doors were closed for negotiations with dictators only, and that he was ready to embrace President Asif Zardari if he changed his stance.

Sharif said the PML-N would soon table a bill in the National Assembly to repeal the 17th Amendment, and if the PPP government desired, it could be repealed in 10 minutes.

"We will table a bill in the National Assembly to repeal the 17th Amendment soon and if the PPP government so desires, it can be done away within 10 minutes," The News quoted Sharif, as saying.

He said the PML-N would be taking the initiative to table the bill to repeal the 17th Amendment after waiting for one year as the PPP leadership had also promised to repeal this amendment.

"A number of PPP parliamentarians are also against the 17th Amendment and the PML-N will prove that it is sincere in repealing this amendment," he said.

Sharif said he did not know as to how long the bill would take to pass but if the PPP government extended its support, it could be passed in 10 minutes. "But I think it should not take too long for the bill to be passed," he added.

To a question about an alliance with the PML-Q while the Senate elections are approaching, he said his party would not sacrifice its principles for the sake of some Upper House seats.

To a question about the restoration of sacked judges, he said the PML-N would never recognise the existing Supreme Court and had no trust in the Chief Justice.

He maintained that despite committing this injustice, Dogar was continuing as the chief justice, saying all this was happening at the behest of the government. "This is happening only in Pakistan," he regretted. (ANI)