The leaders of Pakistan's ruling coalition are to hold urgent talks on meeting their pledge to restore judges sacked by President Pervez Musharraf.
The leaders of Pakistan's ruling coalition have begun urgent talks on meeting their pledge to restore judges sacked by President Pervez Musharraf.
PML-N leader Nawaz Sharif and the PPP's Asif Zardari are meeting over lunch in Dubai, officials said.
PML-N leader Nawaz Sharif and the PPP's Asif Zardari are meeting over lunch in Dubai, officials said.
After winning recent elections, both parties agreed to reinstate the judges by the end of April.
After winning recent elections, both parties agreed to reinstate the judges by the end of April.
Failure to resolve differences over the issue has put the month-old coalition under strain.
Failure to resolve differences over the issue has put the month-old coalition under strain.
Mr Sharif will meet Mr Zardari and make a "last-ditch effort to convince him to re-instate judges", party secretary Imran Khwaja told AFP news agency.
Mr Sharif's lunch meeting with Mr Zardari began shortly after 1400 local time in Dubai.
The PML-N leader was to make a "last-ditch effort to convince him to re-instate judges", party secretary Imran Khwaja told AFP news agency ahead of the talks.
Before his departure, Mr Sharif warned of disastrous consequences for democracy in Pakistan if the judges were not restored.
Before his departure, Mr Sharif warned of disastrous consequences for democracy in Pakistan if the judges were not restored.
SACKED JUDGES March 2007: President Musharraf suspends Supreme Court chief justice, triggering protests6 Oct 2007: President Musharraf wins election3 Nov 2007: President declares state of emergency and sacks around 60 judges22 Nov 2007: New Supreme Court upholds Musharraf election win18 Feb 2008: New coalition government of PPP and PML-N emerge victorious in parliamentary polls30 April 2008: Deadline set by two parties to reinstate sacked judges
SACKED JUDGES March 2007: President Musharraf suspends Supreme Court chief justice, triggering protests6 Oct 2007: President Musharraf wins election3 Nov 2007: President declares state of emergency and sacks around 60 judges22 Nov 2007: New Supreme Court upholds Musharraf election win18 Feb 2008: New coalition government of PPP and PML-N emerge victorious in parliamentary polls30 April 2008: Deadline set by two parties to reinstate sacked judges
Discussions between the two main governing parties have stalled over important details.
Discussions between the two main governing parties have stalled over important details.
The PML-N wants the unconditional restoration of the sacked judges.
The PML-N wants the unconditional restoration of the sacked judges.
It argues that the judges who replaced those that were sacked should lose their jobs, because it says they acted unlawfully in upholding President Musharraf's declaration of emergency rule in 2007.
It argues that the judges who replaced those that were sacked should lose their jobs, because it says they acted unlawfully in upholding President Musharraf's declaration of emergency rule in 2007.
Mr Zardari wants to link their re-instatement to a comprehensive raft of constitutional reforms, which he argues are needed to prevent abuses that have occurred in the past.
Mr Zardari wants to link their re-instatement to a comprehensive raft of constitutional reforms, which he argues are needed to prevent abuses that have occurred in the past.
However, coalition insiders say Mr Zadari is also worried that, if restored, the judges could undo an amnesty deal that cleared him of corruption charges.
However, coalition insiders say Mr Zadari is also worried that, if restored, the judges could undo an amnesty deal that cleared him of corruption charges.
The judges, including the chief justice of the Supreme Court, were sacked after President Musharraf declared a state of emergency.
The judges, including the chief justice of the Supreme Court, were sacked after President Musharraf declared a state of emergency.
At the time, the Supreme Court was preparing to rule on whether his re-election earlier that year was legal.
At the time, the Supreme Court was preparing to rule on whether his re-election earlier that year was legal.
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