ISLAMABAD, 15 May 2008 — Former Pakistani Prime Minister Mian Nawaz Sharif has said his party would extend full support to the lawyers for the restoration of deposed judges.
Sharif, who is the chief of the Pakistan Muslim League (N), denied his party wanted confrontation with the government. “It is a separate issue. PML-N will support the lawyers for a noble cause and I think nobody will object to it,” Sharif told the Voice of America. He said his party had made it clear it would not become part of any conspiracy to topple the government.
“We will take every step for the restoration of judges. We will take part in the lawyers’ movement and play our role,” he said adding it does not mean the PML-N was opposing the government.
About restarting talks with the Pakistan People’s Party, he said now there should be talks on the judges’ issue only. “I am always ready for talks. Asif Ali Zardari is my honorable colleague and friend.”
Zardari said yesterday he hoped Sharif’s party would remain a partner.
Meanwhile, leaders of the All Parties Democratic Movement, including Imran Khan of Tehrik-e-Insaf, Qazi Hussain Ahmad of Jamaat-e-Islami and Mahmud Khan Achakzai of Pakhtoonkhawa Milli Awami Party, told a joint press conference they would restart their movement for the reinstatement of the sacked judges.
They asked the armed forces not to interfere in politics and called for President Pervez Musharraf’s resignation.
They reminded the PPP and the PML(N) leaders to honor their commitment concerning the reinstatement of judges.
Judgment Reserved on Sharif’s Nomination
The scrutiny of nomination papers for by-elections in 38 national and provincial assembly constituencies began yesterday.
The returning officer reserved his verdict over objections against Sharif’s nomination from NA-123, Lahore. Pakistan Muslim League-Q candidate Akhlaq Guddu and independent candidate Noor Illahi had challenged the eligibility of Sharif to contest poll saying he was convicted in a hijacking case and has been a loan defaulter.
