December 18, 2008	Thursday	Zilhaj 19, 1429

ISLAMABAD, Dec 17: Information Minister Sherry Rehman has said that nobody from the government had ever made any offer to PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif to give up his stand on the issue of chief justice and in return get a favourable judgment in the disqualification cases against himself and his brother Shahbaz Sharif.

“The PPP government respects all democratic forces and believes in democracy and is running the government strictly in accordance with the law and Constitution,” she said in response to Mr Sharif’s statement about the offer.

The government would proceed only in a legal and transparent manner, Ms Rehman said, adding that parliament was supreme and could make legislations on issues of public importance.

“Mr Nawaz Sharif is most welcome to raise the matter in parliament.”

She said: “We believe in the independence of judiciary and also believe in strengthening state institutions.”

In a related development, former minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmad asked Mr Sharif to disclose the name of the person who had conveyed the offer to him, instead of playing politics with the judiciary.

Talking to reporters, he said Mr Sharif should stop defaming the judiciary and name the person who had brought the offer.