Govt bids Nawaz for keeping mum in Farah Dogar case

M. NAFEES NAEEM
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, one of the key allies in the fragile coalition government in Pakistan, has berated the ruling party for its politics of blackmailing, and revealed that People's Party offered its chief Nawaz Sharif withdrawal of cases if he keeps his nose out of Farah Dogar examination case.
Addressing a news conference on Wednesday after chairing a meeting of the party's parliamentary wing, the former prime minister and PML-N chief, Mian Nawaz Sharif said he had been offered 'clearance' in a disqualification case pending in the Supreme Court if he abandons his stance over CJP daughter's examination marks row.
But Nawaz ruled out any possibility for a compromise over the issue and said the matter of additional marks would be brought to its logical end.
"We would take the matter to its logical end. Chaudhary Nisar as Opposition leader in NA would pursue it in the National Assembly and Senator Ishaq Dar would keep it alive in the Senate," said Nawaz.
He also urged the PPP government to stop backing Chief Justice of Supreme Court, Abdul Hamid Dogar.
Nawaz Sharif termed the additional marks issue of Farah Dogar as biggest injustice of the country and asked Justice Dogar to tender his apology to nation.
Calling for resignation of chief justice of Pakistan Abdul Hamid Dogar he said custodian of constitution had no right to stay in his office after gross violation of constitution and law by him.
In an apparent counter move, the PML-N chief said his party in consultation with other political parties would table a bill in the National Assembly for the repeal of 17th Amendment in the Constitution.
"Pakistan People's Party is yet to fulfill the commitment to repeal the 17th Amendment as agreed in the Charter of Democracy. We would table a bill after consultation with other political parties for its repeal," he said.
PML-N leader said that implementation of Charter of Democracy inked by the leadership of both PPP and PML-N on May 14, 2007 in London is the moral responsibility of President Asif Ali Zardari.
He resolved to keep reminding President Zardari of his promises. He said the compliance of the CoD is the collective responsibility of the PPP as well as the PML-N, adding, the breach of promises would let the country slide back to the situation that prevailed before the revival of democracy.
"It is unfortunate that almost a year after the February 18 election, the previous policies are still being implemented, PCO judges are working and 17th amendment is intact," he said.
If PPP did not agree over scrapping the controversial amendment then PML-N with the support of other political parties would table bill in the house for the repeal of this amendment, he declared.
"We are pursuing the policy of convincing the government. We don't want to weaken the government. It is our desire that the democratic process moves on", he maintained.
Nawaz lauded the role of MNA Abid Sher Ali, Chairman of NA Standing Committee on Education dealing with the issue of Farah Hameed Dogar's examination marks.
He alleged federal government was targeting him and his party through governor Punjab
PPP was trampling constitution and justice by inducting judges of its choice in supreme judiciary, he charged. Judges should be non partisans. PML-N would put up stiff resistance against the appointment of these judges, he declared. PML-N however stands by PPP on the issue of national security, he said.
Central party leaders including the Opposition Leader in National Assembly Chaudhary Nisar Ali Khan, Raja Zafar-ul-Haq, Khawaja Asif, Ahsan Iqbal and Iqbal Zafar Jhagra were also present on the occasion.
Regarding the prevailing tension between Pakistan and India after Mumbai attacks, he said India should have adopted a positive approach and should have sought Pakistan's help to investigate the matter, instead of leveling allegations against Pakistan.
He said the opposition, government and the people of Pakistan are willing to have peaceful relations with India but such blame game is no solution to the issues.
Nawaz Sharif said India should not have gone to United Nations Security Council against Pakistan and instead provided evidence to the neighbor for its investigation.
Meanwhile, Minister for Information and Broadcasting Sherry Rehman said on Wednesday that Pakistan Peoples Party Government believes in democracy and it was running the government strictly in accordance with the Law and the Constitution. She rejcted Nawaz's claim that government had offered him withdrawal of cases if he maintains silence over Farah Dogar issue.
"We respect all democratic forces and nobody from the government had ever made an offer to Nawaz Sharif to withdraw from his stand on former Chief Justice on the condition that his cases will be withdrawn. Pakistan Peoples Party government will only proceed in a legal and transparent manner", said Sherry Rehman.