By KUNA,
Islamabad : At the intervention of two political parties, chances have emerged that the ruling coalition partnership of Pakistan may be saved after differences resurfaced over the reinstatement of judges.
Former President Musharraf deposed near 60 judges including the Chief Justice of Pakistan, Iftikhar Muhammad Chauhdary, during his emergency rule.
Nawaz Sharif, chief of Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) which is coalition partner of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), had earlier warned that if judges were not resorted by Friday, his party may quit the government, further plunging the country into political crisis.
However, Asfandyar Wali of Awami National Party (ANP) and Maulana Fazlur Rehman of Jamait-e-Ulema Islam came as saviors and offered their services to save the coalition from splitting again.
The two mediators held lengthy talks with Nawaz Sharif on Friday. After addressing a joint press conference, they announced that it had been agreed to form another committee that would prepare a draft to restore all judges.
Sharif said that after the draft had been prepared, it would be presented in the National Assembly and according to the agreement, judges must be restored by Wednesday.
Though he avoided repeating his party’s intent to quit the government if the PPP backed off its promise to restore the judges, he appeared irritated and firmed on his stance.
Sharif wants restoration of all judges including Iftikhar, who let him end his a decade-old exile to Saudi Arab and participate in the general elections held in February. However, PPP wants to restore all judges except Iftikhar, largely because of his ruling against Zardari’s imprisonment.
Political analysts believe, the two parties are not likely to reach on an agreement of Iftikhar reinstatement and the political deadlock could again prevail in the country. It may also be mentioned here that the current Chief Justice, Abdul Hameed Jodgar, Thursday announced that he would not resign from his post.
PPP has twice breached its promise of restoring Musharraf-deposed judges with PML-N. The deadlock that had almost paralyzed the government for months ended with another agreement to first impeach Musharraf and then restore the judges afterwards.