September 10, 2008	Wednesday	Ramazan 09, 1429

LAHORE, Sept 9: PML-N chief Mian Nawaz Sharif said on Tuesday the PPP leaders would take a decision about their ministers in the Punjab cabinet.

He was talking to journalists at the Allama Iqbal airport prior to his departure for London.

Answering a question about his party’s demand that PPP ministers should quit the Punjab cabinet, he said the matter had been settled and the PPP would take a decision in this regard.

The PML-N chief said that Asif Ali Zardari was a constitutional and democratically elected president and this was a healthy development for the country. He said the PML-N believed in transfer of power through elections.

The president and the prime minister should be elected in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution and law of the land, he added.

“We met Mr Zardari and congratulated him because he is the elected and constitutional president of Pakistan, one who did not take over power like a dictator and we do acknowledge the mandate given to him as the president.”

Mr Sharif said: “We want the government to complete its five-year constitutional term while ensuring good governance, rule of law and supremacy of the 1973 Constitution of and the parliament.”

He said the 17th Amendment must be repealed, adding that the PML-N would support all steps the PPP would take strengthen democratic norms.

“If the Charter of Democracy is followed in letter and spirit Pakistan cannot go wrong.”

The PML-N chief said that during the 60 years of Pakistan, generals had ruled the country for 34 years, resulting in hunger, poverty, inflation and flour and electricity crises. “If the generals had not meddled in government affairs the situation would have been different.”

Mr Sharif said his party stuck to its principled stand on restoration of the judges who, according to him, should be reinstated to their pre-Nov 3, 2007, positions. He said the PML-N considered the recent oath-taking of some of the deposed judges as fresh appointments.—APP