PML-N not to compromise on deposed judges reinstatement: Nisar

ISLAMABAD : PML-N central leader Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan said Tuesday the party would adhere to its stand for reinstatement of the deposed judges and would not comprise on this. He told a news conference that the PML-N ministers had presented their resignations to Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani and attended a lunch hosted by him for them.
Nisar Ali Khan said the prime minister had refused to accept the resignations and he also had a telephone conversation with PML-N Quaid Nawaz Sharif.
He said whether the resignations were accepted or not the party would not be part of the cabinet. “We will not participate in government decision-making process,” he added.
Reiterating the PML-N Quaid’s statement that the party would sit on the treasury benches and support the government on issue-to-issue basis, he said the PML-N would not support any move to de-stabilize the government.
He underscored that PML-N had made a commitment to the nation for reinstatement of the judges and it would stand by it even if it had to “sacrifice” its government in Punjab.
Nisar Ali Khan said the resignations had been addressed to the office of president as under the constitution a minister could resign in writing to the president. The party did not accept the holder as legal head of state, he added.
He said the people had given their mandate to the party in the February general elections on the basis of its stand for the restoration of the judges.
Return of the judiciary to the position before November 3, 2007 was indispensable for justice and rule of law in the country, he stressed.
Nisar Ali Khan said Shahbaz Sharif would be contesting the by-elections to be held in June and there was no reason for rejection of his candidacy.
The PML-N central leader said the party would support the efforts of civil society and lawyers for the cause of independent judiciary.
In response to a question, he said the party would not support any constitutional amendment that ran counter to the spirit of the March 9 Bhurban declaration by PML-N and PPP leadership for the restoration of the judges.