Restoration of deposed judges in country’s interest: Nawaz Sharif

ASSOCIATED PRESS SERVICE

ISLAMABAD : Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz Quaid and former prime minister Nawaz Sharif Saturday said the restoration of deposed judges is in the interest of the country and his party is committed to this.
Talking to the media after a meeting with a delation of the Federal Union of Journalists, he said the nation had given its mandate in the February 18 elections for the restoration of judiciary to pre-emergency status.
The PML-N Quaid said a parliamentary resolution along with executive order is necessary to restore deposed judges within the time-frame announced in the Bhurban Declaration jointly issued by him and PPP leader Asif Ali Zardari.
He said the judges would be restored in accordance with the declaration in which “we made a solemn commitment to the nation.”
Nawaz Sharif said not only the judges should be restored but the entire
judiciary should function with complete independence according to the law and the
constitution.
The PML-N Quaid said he was confident that the PPP leadership was equally committed to the joint pledge made at Bhurban. “I do not have any doubt about the intentions of PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari.”
He said some people were trying to create division in the coalition government. “We have to make it clear that we will never become part of any dictatorship.”
Nawaz Shairf said a free and independent judiciary was vital for freedom of media and politicians to discharge their national responsibilities.
To a question about 58 (2) B, the PML-N Quaid said that there is no reason to use this power as “we are going to restore deposed judges and not to expel any judges.”
He said that it was first time in the history of the country that the two major parties are cooperating with each other to run national affairs under a coalition government.
Answering a question about wheat crisis, he said the previous government exported wheat at low price and later the commodity was imported at very high rate.
The PML-N leader said the previous government had spent billions of rupees on Chief Minister’s Secretariat in Lahore.
He said a huge amount was also spent on the foreign visits of the President, adding that in such circumstances poverty could not be reduced.
Replying a question, he said the two federal ministers belonging to PML-N, who were present at PM House dinner, were unaware that the President was also invited by the Prime Minister.
He recalled that the PML-N ministers had taken oath from the President in national interest but wore black arm bands on the occasion.
The PML-N Quaid paid tribute to the media for keeping the nation abreast of all developments in the country.