Pakistan

Coalition leaders hashing out a deal over judges

Article published on the 2008-05-01 Latest update 2008-05-01 18:35 TU

Asif Ali Zardari (left) head of the PPP and Nawaz Sharif (right) head of the PML-N in Islamabad
(Photo: Reuters)

Leaders of Pakistan's ruling parties have come to an agreement on the reinstatement of judges which had threatened their alliance. On the second day of a meeting in Dubai, former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif head of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), and Pakistan Peoples' Party (PPP) leader Asif Ali Zardari announced that the judges, sacked by President Pervez Musharraf, would be reinstated.

“They promised when they met in March that they would restore ... [the judges] ... within thirty days of forming the government,” said RFI’s correspondent in Islamad, Rana Jawad.

The 30-day deadline expired on Wednesday, “and still, the major coalition partner, the PPP, is showing no sign of implementing that agreement,” continued Jawad. “That’s why, in the last-ditch effort to save that decision, the other party has flown to Dubai.”

The decision was a sticking point in a coalition between two rival parties. “Restoration of the judges has to be by an act of parliament or an amendment to the constitution,” explained Jawad. The PPP wanted an amendment, he said, because “if they do not reform the judiciary, then there will be a judiciary imposed that is hostile to them, and pro- Nawaz Sharif.

Following talks today, Nawaz Sharif announced that "substantive progress" had been made on the issue, adding that the restoration would take place through a parliamentary resolution. Sharif refused to give any more information on the agreement however, saying that details would be announced tomorrow. Sharif is due to fly back to Pakistan on Thursday evening.

Pervez Musharraf declared a state of emergency in November last year, suspended the constitution and deposed some 60 judges ahead of a decision by the Supreme Court on whether to overturn his re-election as president. He also gave amnesty to members of the PPP on corruption charges, including to Benazir Bhutto, the head of the party at the time who was later assassinated.

Federal Minister Chaudry Nisar, a parliamentary leader of the PML-N, said a decision on the issue would be made Thursday.