Islamabad: Pakistan's ruling coalition leaders will meet next week to iron out differences that have emerged between the PPP and PML-N on the reinstatement of judges sacked last year by President Pervez Musharraf.

PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif has committed his party to the reinstatement of all 60 judges, including former Supreme Court Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, without any condition. This demand was a key part of the party s election campaign that garnered it a lot of support.

Over the past few days, media reports have said Pakistan People's Party (PPP), which heads the coalition, intends to link the reinstatement of judges to a constitutional package for judicial reforms. PPP leader and Law Minister Farooq Naek has said a parliamentary committee will be formed to work out modalities for restoring the judges.

Sharif, PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari and Awami National Party chief Asfandyar Wali Khan are expected to meet early next week to sort out the differences.

The PML-N has pointed out that the agreement signed by it last month with the PPP to form the government states that the judges will be reinstated by passing a resolution in parliament within 30 days of the coalition coming to power. It has said the matter could not be linked to any constitutional package.

Top PML-N leader Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, who has the status of a senior minister in the government, said his party "will not move even an inch from the restoration of judges" and a resolution would be adequate for their reinstatement.

Acknowledging that there are "differences" on the issue between the two parties, Khan told reporters yesterday that the formation of a parliamentary committee or resorting to a constitutional package "will complicate matters".
Source : PTI