Monday, May 12, 2008, Jamadi-ul-Awwal 5, 1429    

Collapse of coalition to be a blow to democracy: Ahsan
Reconciliation not meant to safeguard individual’s interest

Islamabad—Minister for Education Ahsan Iqbal said on Sunday that the people of Pakistan have given the mandate to political forces and it is their obligation that they come up to their expectations by following the Charter of Democracy and Murree Declaration in their true spirit.
He said that there is a need for reconciliation but it does not mean that such reconciliation would safeguard the interests of any individual. He said the people of Pakistan have sacrificed a lot for the freedom of judiciary and the reinstatement of deposed judges is their collective demand.
He said it is the duty of the political forces that they strive for reinstatement of deposed judges, adding that the judges, who took oath under PCO, have negated the Charter of Democracy.
The education minister said that the PML-N would remain part of the cabinet provided the Charter of Democracy is implemented in its true spirit. He said the collapse of coalition would be great blow to the democracy in Pakistan so the party is striving for every possible solution for the restoration of deposed judges.
Ahsan Iqbal alleged that the conspiracies are being knitted to dismantle the coalition but he vowed that the PML-N would never become part of such conspiracies.—APP