Sharif denies making a 'U-turn' on constitutional reforms package

Lahore, Mar.28 (ANI): Rejecting suggestions that he had made a 'U-turn' over the constitutional reforms package, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) chief Nawaz Sharif has said he has no regrets, and has done nothing wrong.

Talking to media persons at a party worker's house here, Sharif blamed the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) for the current political chaos, saying the ruling party is trying to link every issue with the 17th Constitutional Amendment.

Commenting on differences with the PPP, Sharif said it (PPP) wanted to include a senior judge of its choice in the commission, which was formed to formalise the constitution reforms package.

"It was unacceptable because three of the seven members are already representatives of the government," Sharif said.

He described the constitutional package which was to be tabled in Parliament as "half-baked", and said matters were still under discussion when the government announced that it would be tabling the document in the house and that President Asif Ali Zardari would address a joint session of Parliament before that.

Sharif also called for curtailing the President's powers in 'single go' before moving to other reforms in the constitutional package.

Responding to a question that whether he received a 'phone call' prior to his sudden change of stance on the issue, Sharif said days of 'telephone diplomacy' are over.

"The situation has changed in Pakistan and the days of diplomacy over the telephone are history," The Daily Times quoted Sharif, as saying.

The former premier also rejected media reports about him receiving guidelines from others over the constitutional reforms package. (ANI)