PML-N not consulted on major decisions: Nawaz Sharif
'Pakistan Times' Political Desk

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) Quaid Nawaz Sharif said Thursday that the government did not consult his party, a major partner in the ruling coalition, before taking key decisions like operation in Khyber Agency and increase in petroleum and gas prices.

Talking to media at Islamabad Airport before leaving for London to see his spouse Kulsoom Nawaz who is recuperating after recent surgery, he said that all important matters should be discussed in the National Assembly.

Referring to the Khyber Agency operation, he said two and half months the coalition partners had agreed during a high-level meeting to adopt a policy of dialogue in the tribal areas.

He said he did not know what was behind the change in approach. About his recent meeting with US envoy Richard Boucher, the former prime minister said he had told him that Pakistan’s internal affairs have to be managed by the government without any outside interference.

Voicing his dismay over non-reinstatement of the deposed judges, Nawaz Sharif said the PML-N was supporting the PPP-led government so that the country was rid of the vestiges of dictatorship.

He recalled that he and PPP leader Asif Ali Zardari had made a solemn public commitment to restore the judges. “If commitments are not fulfilled at this level then at what level will these be fulfilled?” he asked.

“We have to restore the 1973 constitution. We have to restore rule of law and we have to make the parliament sovereign,” he said, adding that in actually practice the parliament was not acting as a sovereign institution.

The PML-N leader said he had impressed upon the PPP Co-Chairman to give top priority to resolving the judges’ issue.

He said the party had withdrawn its ministers from the federal cabinet Nawaz Sharif, adding that it had made this “sacrifice” for a larger cause that stilled remained to be fulfilled.

Replying to a question about the lawyer community’s plan to hold another long march for which a schedule is to be given later this month, he said that the party would continue supporting the lawyers’ movement. ●