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Crisis talks over Pakistan judges Pakistan parties seek judges deal
(about 3 hours later)
The leaders of Pakistan's ruling coalition have begun urgent talks on meeting their pledge to restore judges sacked by President Pervez Musharraf. The leaders of Pakistan's governing coalition have been holding talks in Dubai on 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. No details have yet emerged about the discussions between PML-N leader Nawaz Sharif and the PPP's Asif Zardari, but they are expected to meet again later.
After winning recent elections, both parties agreed to reinstate the judges by the end of April. After winning the recent parliamentary elections, both parties agreed to restore 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 strain on the coalition.
Mr Sharif's lunch meeting with Mr Zardari began shortly after 1400 local time in Dubai. The coalition talks have been taking place at Mr Zardari's residence in Dubai, where he lived for many years with his wife, former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, who was assassinated in December.
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 flying there, Mr Sharif said he wanted the coalition to stay together, but warned of "disastrous consequences for democracy and Pakistan" if the judges were not restored as promised.
Before his departure, Mr Sharif warned of disastrous consequences for democracy in Pakistan if the judges were not restored. He has insisted that judges who replaced those sacked last year should lose their jobs, because they had acted unlawfully in upholding Gen Pervez Musharraf's declaration of emergency rule in November 2007.
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 class="" href="/1/hi/world/south_asia/7240819.stm">Q&A: Pakistan's judges
Discussions between the two main governing parties have stalled over important details. He suggested that the old judges' re-instatement should to be kept separate from constitutional reforms proposed by the PPP that include plans for the judiciary, but he said he would be "happy to discuss the package".
The PML-N wants the unconditional restoration of the sacked judges. Mr Zardari has argued that constitutional amendments are needed to prevent the judicial abuses that have occurred in the past.
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. These would limit the tenure and powers of the chief justice and prevent judges from getting involved in politics.
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 Zardari 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. On Tuesday, Information Minister Sherry Rehman of the PPP said that restoring the judges required legislation that "needs some time".
The judges, including the chief justice of the Supreme Court, were sacked after President Musharraf declared a state of emergency. "I don't think in this situation the coalition is threatened," she said.
The judges, including the chief justice of the Supreme Court, Iftikhar Chaudhry, were sacked after Mr Musharraf declared the 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.
 They were also due to rule on whether an amnesty the president granted Ms Bhutto and Mr Zardari in a number of corruption cases was legal.
Are you in Pakistan? What is your reaction to the current political situation? Send us your comments and experiences using the form below:Are you in Pakistan? What is your reaction to the current political situation? Send us your comments and experiences using the form below:
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