Monday, May 19, 2008, Jamadi-ul-Awwal 12, 1429    

Judges may be reinstated before June 10: Kaira

Observer Report

Okara—Federal Minister for Kashmir and Northern Areas Affairs Qamar-Uz-Zaman Kaira has said that deposed judges might be reinstated before 10th of June.

Addressing a press conference in Okara, he further stated that there was no minus or plus formula being pondered for the restoration of deposed judges. Conducting a long march in favour of deposed judges is the democratic right of lawyers, however the deposed judges might be reinstated prior to 10th of June.

He was of the view that the appointment of Salman Taseer being the new Governor of Punjab would have no negative impact on the coalition of PPP and PML-N and that the objection on his appointment made no sense.

Provincial Minister for Labour Ashraf Sohna was also present at the press conference.

Difference of opinion is beauty of democracy, he underscored. There is no difference between PPP and PML-N on the reinstatement of judges but difference is there only on modalities.

Some people wanted judges be restored through executive order but the possibility was there this could not prove an effective and durable and lead to compound the problem, he underlined.

Therefore, PPP wants this issue is resolved through parliament on permanent basis. Government fully upholds stance of lawyers and civil society in this respect, he added.

PPP alliance with PML-N is not based on appointments but “ we are going side by side on the basis of Charter of Democracy, he remarked. Therefore, no one should raise objection on the appointment of Suleman Taseer, he added.

PPP and President Musharraf stance on Kashmir policy is identical, he said adding the positive aspects of Kashmir policy therefore, will be continued despite change in government.

No plan is under consideration to create a province comprising northern areas, he told. APDM leadership is patriotic and convening national conference by them is a positive step, he held.