By Muhammad Najeeb, IANS
Islamabad : Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf Monday discussed with his legal aides options before him after two major parties, set to form the next government, resolved to restore judges sacked by him.
Officials said that members of the caretaker cabinet, including Prime minister Muhammadmian Soomro, Attorney General Malik Abdul Qayyum and others met in the presidency to discuss the situation after the two-party coalition announcement on the issue.
“The legal experts assured the president that parliament cannot restore the judges and any such step would be considered illegal and can be challenged in the Supreme Court where it would be heard by the judges who have shown allegiance to Musharraf,” an official told IANS.
Asif Ali Zardari and Nawaz Sharif, heading the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) respectively, Sunday declared the new parliament will restore all judges of superior courts, whom Musharraf sacked after the Nov 3 emergency in the country.
Zardari and Sharif said parliament will restore the judges within 30 days of the formation of the new government, which is likely to be installed next week.
After formally signing a coalition pact, the two leaders also asked the president to convene the newly elected parliament and the provincial assemblies to session.
Another official said a summary to convene parliament has been sent to the presidency and Musharraf can call the session later this week or earlier next week. The government is expected to be formed three days after the first session of parliament opens.