Judges' issue not a matter for PPP: SHCBA

KARACHI - The deadline for the reinstatement of deposed judges has ended but leaders of the two leading political parties failed to evolve a formula in this regard while the legal fraternity is flexing its muscles to tackle the situation. The recent deadlock over the reinstatement of deposed judges between PPP and PML-N leading the situation towards another judicial crisis and compelling the lawyers to come on the roads once again and launch a massive protest. The present situation occurred when PPP Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari clearly showed his intentions during an interview to a private TV channel that he was not willing to restore deposed CJP Iftikhar Chauhdry. The rift between two parties on the judges' issue is now visible as both, having different stance, are going in opposite directions. The PML-N is demanding the implementation of "Murree Declaration" as it was signed between two parties while the PPP wants to attach a constitutional package with the restoration's resolution. Rashid Rizvi, President Sindh High Court Bar Association (SHCBA), while commenting on the situation, said that withdrawal of PPP Co-Chairman from his commitment regarding the restoration of judges was not an internal matter of PPP like that in case of Makhdoom Ameen Faheem in which Zardari didn't fulfill his commitment and faced no reaction from the party workers. He added that it was the matter of freedom of judiciary and people would launch massive protest if Murree Declaration not implemented. Rizvi said that Murree Declaration was not a political agreement between the parties but it was the agreement among the people for the freedom of judiciary. When contacted, Justice Saeeduzaman Siddiqui said the PML-N stance on judges' issue is very clear but PPP leaders are reluctant to implement the Murrree Declaration because they are the main beneficiaries of NRO that is why Asif Ali Zardari is not taking the matter seriously. He further said that without the restoration of judges, the coalition government couldn't be run smoothly as PML-N had already announced that it would withdraw from the federal ministries if the judges would not be reinstated according to the Murree Declaration. He further said that no constitutional package was decided in the Murree Declaration and it was clearly announced that judiciary would be restored to the 2-November position but now PPP Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari is withdrawing from his commitment. Justice Saeeduzaman Siddiqui disclosed that constitutional package was the bone of contention between the two leading parties because it contains some points against the freedom of judiciary and curbs on the power of judges. He further said that if such kind of package is presented in the parliament it would not be approved with two third majority. Siddiqui further opined that constitutional package should not be attached with the restoration of judges and suggested that package could be brought after the reinstatement only if parliament want to increase the number of judges and some other constitutional amendments. He said the accommodation of PCO judges would be solved through parliament act.

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