By KUNA,
Islamabad : The political situation in Pakistan took yet another turn on Saturday after the ruling party, led by Benazir Bhutto’s widower, linked the reinstatement of the Musharraf-deposed judges to the presidential elections.
The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) has linked up the judges’ restoration issue to the presidential elections, as judges can only be restored through a presidential order, official sources told KUNA.
They said the PPP had conveyed to coalition partner Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) that after the election of the president, an order could be issued for the restoration of all judges.
The sensitive coalition government of PPP and PML-N had reached the brink of collapse, and were rescued by the mediation of two political parties, Jamiat-e-Ulema Islam and Awami National Party.
At a joint press conference on Friday, they announced the preparation of a draft resolution that would restore judges during Wednesday’s National Assembly session.
PML-N wants restoration of all judges, including former Chief Justice Iftikhar Chauhdary, deposed during former President Pervez Musharraf’s emergency rule.
However, PPP wants restoration of all except Iftikhar.
The two parties, after months of deadlock, earlier this month agreed to impeach Musharraf first and then restore judges afterwards. However, the PPP yet again backed off its promise and has asked for time to reinstate all judges including Iftikhar.