Pakistani Politics

PML-N leaders Mian Nawaz Sharif and Mian Shahbaz Sharif congratulated Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani on Monday afternoon on his historic decision to save the system by restoring the judges and releasing political prisoners.

It was the first formal contact of Nawaz and Shahbaz with the PM after the announcement of restoration of the pre-November 3 judiciary. The prime minister told them that the PPP was committed to the promises made under the Charter of Democracy of which Shaheed Benazir Bhutto and Mian Nawaz Sharif were the signatories.

Gilani said the government had fulfilled the commitment of Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Shaheed and the PPP Co-chairman, President Asif Ali Zardari. “My government stands for strengthening the institutions and wishes to take all parties along on this matter.”

The prime minister said political reconciliation among the democratic forces would bring a positive change in the whole system. Gilani reiterated that the federal government would soon move a review petition in the Supreme Court against its decision to disqualify the Sharif brothers. Responding to the prime minister’s offer of olive branch for taking the reconciliation process forward, Nawaz expressed the hope that the PPP and the PML-N would jointly evolve a strategy in this regard.

Nawaz Sharif and Shahbaz Sharif agreed with Gilani that the Charter of Democracy should be the basis of reconciliation efforts at the national level. They also invited the prime minister for a meeting during his visit to Lahore. The prime minister said the PPP office-bearers and workers across the country were fully participating in the celebrations to mark the restoration of the deposed judges.

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