PPP, PML(N) reach understanding on Mush's impeachment, judges

Rezaul H Laskar

Islamabad, Aug 7 (PTI) In an apparent breakthrough,
Pakistan's two main ruling coalition allies Thursday said they
have reached an "understanding" on impeaching President Pervez
Musharraf and reinstating judges sacked by him last year, with
Nawaz Sharif's P.M.L.(N.) declaring that the two steps will be
taken "within days".

After three days of marathon talks, P.M.L.-N. leaders
said the two parties had reached broad agreement on the two
issues.

P.P.P. sources said that the two parties had been able
to resolve differences that had arisen following Musharraf
suddenly approving a proposal to reinstate eight judges of the
Sindh High Court whom he had sacked during last year's
emergency rule.

P.M.L.-N. spokesman Siddique-ul-Farooq said the
impeachment of Musharraf would be followed by the restoration
of the deposed judges "within 24 hours".

He told reporters, "I think it may take days, not
weeks. Both the (impeachment and reinstatement of deposed
judges) will be completed within days."

Farooq also said both parties cannot "afford further
delays" on the impeachment and restoration of the deposed
judges – two thorny issues they have grappled with since they
came together in March to form a coalition.

Senior P.M.L.-N. leader Ahsan Iqbal, a confidant of
Sharif, said, "I can say that an understanding has been
reached on all important issues and we will present the
outcome of our consultations before the nation. I am very
Impeachment motion against Musharraf on August 11: report
Islamabad, Aug 7 (PTI) Pakistan's ruling coalition is

expected to move an impeachment motion against President
Pervez Musharraf in parliament on August 11.

Pakistan People's Party and the P.M.L.(N.) have
finalised a draft declaration on the impeachment of the
President, an unnamed P.P.P. member of the cabinet, who
participated in discussions between the parties, was quoted as
saying by Dawn News channel Thursday.

The declaration, finalised following talks held in the
chamber of P.P.P. leader Raza Rabbani, the leader of the House
in the Senate or upper house of parliament, also included
modalities for reinstating judges deposed during last year's
emergency by Musharraf.

The cabinet member said an impeachment motion would be
moved against the President in parliament on August 11.

Special sessions of the National Assembly and four
provincial assemblies would be convened the same day.

The deposed judges would be reinstated through an
executive order issued by the government, the cabinet member
said.

The cabinet member also told the channel that the
powerful army was behind the civilian government and not the
President.

Besides Rabbani, the meeting was attended by senior
P.M.L.-N. leaders Ishaq Dar and Ahsan Iqbal and P.P.P. leaders
and federal ministers Sherry Rehman, Khurshid Shah and Farooq
Naek.

Musharraf, 63, Thursday delayed his departure for
China to attend the Olympic Games opening for the second time
in as many days and will now slated to leave in evening.