LAHORE, April 20: Federal Law Minister Farooq H. Naek called on former prime minister Mian Nawaz Sharif here on Sunday and discussed with him matters relating to reinstatement of deposed judges.

The minister later flew back to Islamabad and briefed PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari on the talks.

PML-N president Mian Shahbaz Sharif, federal ministers Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan and Khwaja Asif and Punjab Advocate-General Khwaja Haris attended the meeting.

According to sources, modalities for reinstating the judges came under discussion. Views were exchanged on implications of the reinstatement and other related matters.

Mr Sharif has been quoted as saying that the National Assembly would pass a resolution after which an executive order would be issued by the relevant authority for reinstating the judges.

“The crisis gripping the country for a long time is expected to come to an end during the current week,” the sources said.

They said the ongoing session of the National Assembly would be prorogued during the current week and the reinstatement would be ordered before that.

Leaders of the parties in the ruling coalition — Asif Zardari, Nawaz Sharif, Asfandyar Wali and Maulana Fazlur Rehman — will meet in Islamabad on Monday to finalise the modalities.

Mr Sharif is leaving for a private visit to London in a few days.

He wants the judges issue resolved before that in line with the pledge made by the PPP and the PML-N in the Bhurban declaration.

Meanwhile, the presidential camp insists that the reinstatement of the deposed judges will be possible only through an amendment to the Constitution.

“Any other course adopted by parliament will be unconstitutional,” sources said, adding that the president would have no objection if the constitutional course was adopted.

However, they declined to say what would be the president’s response if any other method was adopted to bring the deposed judges back to their jobs.