PML-N to take part in lawyers’ sit-in, ready to go “beyond sit-ins”: Nawaz

[Naveed Yaseen]

* PML-N chief says violation of constitution more dangerous than sabotage
* Says Pakistan’s sovereignty linked to success of lawyers’ movement
* Eligibility case in Supreme Court ‘insignificant’ as party doesn’t recognise current judiciary

Daily Times Monitor

LAHORE: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz chief Nawaz Sharif announced on Friday his party would participate in the lawyers’ sit-in scheduled for March 16, anticipating an unfavourable decision by the Supreme Court on an appeal against his eligibility.

Addressing a press conference after a meeting with a delegation of lawyers headed by Supreme Court Bar Association President Ali Ahmad Kurd at his Raiwind residence, Nawaz said violation of the constitution was more dangerous than sabotage, and that his party was even ready to “go beyond sit-ins” to ensure the independence of judiciary. He said that the sit-in should be “effective and result-oriented”, and that the struggle for the restoration of the judiciary had to be taken to its logical conclusion. “The day is not far when the sacked judges will be reinstated honourably,” he said.

Nawaz said all political forces must promise not to let democracy get derailed, adding that all political parties would be taken on board and a strategy for the long march and the sit-in would be evolved and finalised after mutual discussions.

He said Pakistan’s sovereignty was linked to the success of the lawyers’ movement, and expressed regret that the government did not fulfil its promise of the restoration of judiciary and that the 17th Amendment, the National Security Council and the Legal Framework Order inherited from Musharraf still existed. He said he would welcome any contact by the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) for the restoration of the judiciary before the long march.

To a question, Nawaz said the long march and the sit-in were ‘corrective measures’ for the country and urged all Pakistanis to join the protest.

Asked about the case of the electoral eligibility of the Sharif brothers being heard in the Supreme Court, the PML-N chief said it was not significant, as his party did not recognise the present judiciary because it consisted of judges who had taken oath under the Musharraf’s Provisional Constitution Order.

He said he had advised the lawyers to gather in Lahore where the long march towards Islamabad should begin.

Kurd said lawyers would meet Jamaat-e-Islami chief Qazi Hussain Ahmed on Saturday, and Imran Khan, Mehmood Achakzai, Sardar Attaullah Khan and other political leaders later on to finalise the modalities.

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp...2009_pg1_1