ISLAMABAD, Sept 8: The central working committee of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League on Saturday rejected PPP’s terms for a deal with the government, reiterated support for President Pervez Musharraf’s re-election in uniform and, by a majority vote, called for allowing former prime minister Nawaz Sharif to return home.
When the committee was discussing the issue of Mr Sharif’s return, it was informed by government that all options, including deportation and arrest, were being considered and a decision would be taken at appropriate time, sources told Dawn.
The meeting of the 200-member committee, chaired by party president Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, was also attended by the Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz.
It opposed quashing all corruption cases instituted against Benazir Bhutto or making new laws to allow her third term as prime minister. The meeting also opposed the PPP’s demand for repeal of Article 58(2) b of the Constitution and suspension or dissolution of local bodies before general elections.
Prime Minister Aziz and Chaudhry Shujaat reassured PML members that no deal was being struck with the PPP and the dialogue with the PPP chairperson was meant to create a congenial atmosphere for fair and free polls.
The prime minister appeared confident when he left the meeting. He said: “I am satisfied. The party has reposed confidence in the performance of the government. It will go a long way in winning elections”.
In a brief chat with reporters at the PML House, the prime minister said Pakistan was forging ahead, adding that Nawaz Sharif should fulfil the promise that he had made with the rulers of a friendly country.
Addressing the central working committee meeting, the prime minister said the legislators quitting the party were hypocrites and the party should not be bothered about them.
Railways Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed and Punjab Chief Minister Punjab Chaudhry Parvaiz Elahi did not attend the meeting.
PML’s information secretary Senator Tariq Azeem Khan said most of the committee members supported keeping Article 58(2) b intact and that its repeal could derail the democratic system.
The party, he said, was of the view that the local government system should not be suspended before elections because it was working well and it had no parallel anywhere in the world.
It was learnt that introduction of a new law to allow a third prime ministerial term was opposed because it would be Benazir and Nawaz-specific.
A majority of committee members supported the president’s re-election in uniform and said that the decision about his uniform should be left to the president who could do so before taking oath of office.
The PML leader claimed that no committee member supported a deal with Benazir Bhutto.
Chaudhry Shujaat said that Nawaz Sharif should adhere to the understanding he had signed with the Khadim Al Harmain, instead of returning home before completing the 10-year exile.
On the case of Mr Sharif, the party’s lawyers’ wing informed the meeting that there was no legal way to revive remitted sentences. They said that he would have to be dealt with in some other manner.
Referring to the procedure for re-electing President Musharraf, Law Minister Zahid Hamid argued that there was a Supreme Court ruling that allowed him to contest elections in uniform and there was no legal barrier to his re-election.