PML-N leader warns of quitting federal coalition over judges' restoration issue
1 Jul 2008, 1253 Hrs

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Lahore, July 1 (ANI): The PML-N, the second largest political party in Pakistan in terms of number of members in the National Assembly, has once again mounted pressure on the PPP-led federal government that it should reinstate the deposed judges and not link it with the constitutional package, else it would sit in the Opposition extending only issue-based support to the three-month old government.

Party's secretary-general Iqbal Zafar Jhagra reportedly said linking up the act if reinstating judges to the constitutional package would not only amount to recognising the "unconstitutional steps" taken by President Musharraf on Nov 3, but would also delay the matter.

If the demand was not met, the PML-N could decide to sit on Opposition benches in the National Assembly, Jhagra said and added that his party would continue to extend support to the PPP on a 'case-to-case' basis to avoid what he termed derailment of the democratic process, reported the Dawn.

Jhagra said the deposed judges could be reinstated to work within no time with a simple resolution by the National Assembly, as agreed upon in the Murree Declaration. He pointed out that it would take the government a long time to evolve a consensus on the package as parties had differing views on a number of issues incorporated in the document.

"We are not very enthusiastic about the constitutional package. We have not yet finalised our recommendations", the PML-N leader said and added that it was regrettable that the PPP-led federal government had made no progress on judges' issue although both the parties had initially set a 30-day deadline for the purpose. (ANI)