Only political will can restore Judges: Nawaz
By Raza Mumtaz 'Pakistan Times' Executive Editor/UK Bureau Chief

LONDON (UK): Pakistan Muslim League-N Chief and former prime minister Nawaz Sharif has asserted that only political will can restore the truncated judiciary.

Talking to media at the reception hosted in his honour by Lord Nazir Ahmad at the Attlee Room of the House of Lords on Wednesday evening, he said judges of the higher judiciary were ousted through extra-constitutional measures on November 3.

Sharif said caution was thrown to the winds when the judges were removed but the political parties are now endeavouring to reinstate the judiciary as it stood on November 2 through a passage of resolution in the Parliament.

“When martial law can be imposed in the country without any legal justification, the judges, too, can be brought back through political will,” he said.

Responding to a question, the PML-N Chief said he has extended his stay in London to hold a meeting on the judiciary issue with the PPP Co-Chairperson Asif Zardari who is reaching the British capital on Thursday.

Earlier, addressing the gathering which also included a number of MPs and Lords, Sharif recalled his personal tribulations when he had to endure seven years in exile and was not allowed to return home.

He also narrated the events that led to the imposition of the emergency on November 3 and described the measures taken against judiciary as totally unacceptable and violation of the constitution.

Sharif said his party gave a pledge before the February 18 parliamentary elections that the judiciary would be restored and it was incumbent upon them to fulfil their election promise.

He spoke of the spirit of tolerance prevailing in Pakistan as the result of the February elections and said once traditional rivals have now formed a coalition government to take the country forward and consolidate democracy.

“Our problems had been aggravated by decades of military rule and resultant break down of system and values. This also led to the undermining of constitutional supremacy and weakening of institutions in our country. To recover from this chronic ailments including extremism and violence the country must return to genuine people-based democracy.”

He mentioned the good relations developed during his prime minister ship with India which led to the signing of the Lahore declaration during the first ever state visit of an Indian prime minister to Pakistan in early 1999.

Nawaz said the Kargil misadventure threw spanner in the good relations with India. He thought his government was toppled because it was trying to build a good relationship with India.

He said his party was determined to build a responsible and prosperous Pakistan, enjoying good relations with its neighbouring countries and resolute to live in peace with the rest of the world.

Nawaz expressed his gratitude to Britain for supporting the cause of democracy in his country and said Pakistan will endeavour to seek greater co-operation with its European partners, enhance trade and economic ties.

Baroness Saiyida Warsi, MP Khalid Mahmud also spoke on the occasion and welcomed the return of democracy in Pakistan which they described as a very important friend of Britain.

Former Conservative Foreign Secretary and now a member of the House of Lord Malcolm Rifkind spoke of Pakistan’s troubled route to democracy.”

It had democratic governments and it had military regimes but the people of Pakistan had always made it clear which they prefer. “It is enormously heartening that after a long period when democracy was not present, we have began to see a real move back to the democratic system in Pakistan.”

He paid tributes to Sharif for his personal contribution to that transformation, noting that the country has a long way to go in meeting democratic challenges. He mentioned the importance of rule of law and said it was as essential as the right to vote.

Lord Nazir Remarks

Lord Nazir remarked that Pakistan has two national leaders in Nawaz Sharif and the late Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto who visited the House of Lords last year in July.

He said; "both leaders enjoy enormous support in their country and criticised the toppling of the democratically elected government in 1999".

He thanked Nawaz Sharif on the behalf of the British Kashmiris and Pakistanis for fighting for democracy, rule of law, restoration of judiciary.

Lord Ahmad assured his complete support until Pakistan returns to the rule of law, justice for ordinary people, democracy and economy development of the country as well.●