LAHORE, March 18: Pakistan Muslim League-N chief Nawaz Sharif on Wednesday called for repeal of the 17th Amendment and an end to the governor’s rule in Punjab.

He termed governor’s rule unconstitutional and trampling of the public mandate, asking President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani to reciprocate the spirit the PML-N had shown by calling off the long march.
“We don’t want to spoil the atmosphere. Otherwise we could have continued our long march on Islamabad and returned only after all our demands were met,” the PML-N leader said at a press conference.

“We’re happy to give not only this but also another term to the PPP if it decides the future of other judges and that of the 17th Amendment in accordance with the CoD.”

The constitutional amendment made by the Musharraf government included a clause which barred anyone from holding offices of the president, prime minister or chief minister more than twice. It was aimed at stopping Mr Nawaz and PPP chairperson Benazir Bhutto from becoming the prime minister for a third time.

Asked if judges who had earlier taken oath under the Provisional Constitutional Order could be made to show allegiance with the Constitution, he said the matter could be referred to a commission — a proposal made in the CoD.

Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry had also taken oath under the first PCO after Gen Musharraf seized power in 1999.

In reply to a question about appointment of new judges, he said these should be made on merit and through a transparent public hearing.

About his differences with President Asif Ali Zardari, Mr Nawaz said he had no personal enmity with the PPP leader and that a major irritant (judiciary’s issue) in this regard now stood resolved.

When asked about the PML-N’s policy vis-à-vis terrorism and Talibanisation, the former prime minister said all political forces and civil and military leadership would have to join hands for countering these challenges as no single party could confront them on its own.

He stressed the need for trying the option of talks through parliament instead of focusing only on what he called ‘gun policy’ for the purpose.

He pledged to eliminate the present system with the help of the masses.