March 11, 2008	Tuesday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 2, 1429

LAHORE, March 10: If PPP and PML-N are serious in restoring the deposed judges, they must first impeach President Pervez Musharraf, says All Parties Democratic Alliance (APDM).

At a press conference here on Monday, APDM Lahore convener Hafiz Salman Butt said judges could not be restored merely through a resolution of parliament as announced in the Murree Declaration.

He argued that resolutions of the parliament had no legal value, adding countless resolutions, including the one passed by the NWFP Assembly demanding change of the name of the province, passed by different assemblies could not be translated into legislation.

Mr Butt said the fact was also supported by the Supreme Court Bar Association president Aitzaz Ahsan.

He said the objective could be achieved through removing the person who had taken the unconstitutional and illegal step of `emergency plus’.

Welcoming the declaration, he hoped that it would be implemented with sincerity, but warned that the leadership of the two largest parliamentary parties was being trapped by certain forces as was reflected in the declaration.

He warned that even if they tried to bring an act of parliament to restore judges it would be vetoed by President Musharraf and would be stayed by the incumbent judges of the Supreme Court.

However, he said, even if they somehow managed the impossible, the task would lead them to a situation similar to 8th and 17th constitutional amendments but with greater damage than done by those and would open a floodgate of legalising the unconstitutional measures of Gen Musharraf (retired) with far-reaching effects, he cautioned.

Therefore, he said, impeachment of President Musharraf is a must for restoring judges.

He said the new assemblies would prove a 'friendly parliament' for Gen Musharraf and the parties which contested elections under him and now were ready to take oath as cabinet members, acknowledged him as the president of the country.