LAHORE, Jan 28: PML-N Chairman Nawaz Sharif has urged all political parties to converge on one platform and work together for the sake of Pakistan.

Vowing to reverse (in parliament) the steps taken by Musharraf on Nov 3, he said his biggest task was to save Pakistan and its Constitution.

Speaking at a gathering at a local hotel on the invitation of the Pakistan Medical Association which wanted o know his party’s priorities in addressing the health issues, Mr Sharif questioned the position of the future prime minister in the presence of the 17th Amendment, LFO and the National Security Council. “Who will want to become a prime minister in their presence?”

Criticizing Musharraf for “pitting the army against its own people and insulting Pakistanis” on his Europe tour, Mr Sharif maintained that no patriotic citizen could tolerate this.

Hailing the role of lawyers, civil society and media in restoration of judiciary, he said his party in the (future) parliament would raise voice for it irrespective of the seats it would win.

Nawaz Sharif was also in favour of forming an independent commission for the appointment of superior court judges. “There should be no role of the government in appointing judges. An independent commission headed by justices like Saeed Zaman Saddiqui and Rana Baghwandas should be formed to finalize the process of judges’ appointment in consultation with the bars’ bodies and submit it to the parliament for final decision. This will help stop the government in appointing a judge of its own choice.”

The former prime minister was also critical of Musharraf for `succumbing’ to foreign pressure. “I had faced the international pressure too when Pakistan was to respond to India for conducting nuclear tests. There were also some generals in the defense committee who were shuddering to the idea of conducting tests. Thanks God Pakistan has become a nuclear power and it is only because of democracy.

“Today everybody is asking what will happen to Pakistan. This is only because of the wrong policies of the Musharraf government. Had there been democratic government no such crisis would have emerged.”

Nawaz said that had Benazir Bhutto agreed to his suggestion of boycotting the elections the nation would have got rid of President Pervaiz Musharraf by now.

“I had asked the Motarma by telephone from Jeddah after the imposition of emergency in the country on Nov 3 that if we boycotted the elections Musharraf would be left with no option but to step down. When I reached Lahore I again tried to convince her for boycott,” Mr Sharif said.

He maintained that he had signed the Chartered of Democracy with a purpose of restoring the rule of law, democracy and elimination of army role in politics. “At that time I was asked how it would be implemented and I replied that it was possible if the judiciary was made independent.” Zulqernain Tahir