No agreement on judges, shadow of crisis hangs over Pakistani government
Islamabad (AsiaNews) - In spite of the many meetings and reassuring declarations, the shadow of crisis is approaching for the new Pakistani government. No agreement has been reached between the two main governing parties over the reinstatement of the 60 judges removed by president Pervez Musharraf last November, with the proclamation of the state of emergency.
The party of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif - the Muslim League (N) - and that of Asif Ali Zardari - the People's Party led by Benazir Bhutto until her death - yesterday concluded their latest meeting on the matter with no practical results, raising preoccupations over the survival of the two-party coalition that won the last parliamentary elections.
While Sharif is asking for a simple reinstatement of the judges, Zardari would like it to be accompanied by a constitutional reduction of their powers. The battle over the judges has been one of the main sticking points for the two parties, following the proclamation of the state of emergency by Musharraf.
Nonetheless, the failure to reach an agreement is creating discontent in many sectors of society, and even in the political groups themselves. Ahsan Iqbal, leader of the League and education minister, says: "In the light of what has happened, we have no choice but to withdraw from the federal government". The secretary of his party is instead throwing water on the fire: "I pray we could iron out these differences and give good news to the nation tomorrow".
In reality, the failed agreements conceal a series of judicial concerns that involve both formations. Members of the People's Party are afraid of the accusations of corruption pending against chairman Zardari, while the Muslims take a dim view of former Supreme Court president Chaudry, who has repeatedly issued judgments against the Islamisation of society.
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