Labour Party Pakistan spokesperson Farooq Tariq rejected the constitutional packages proposed by Asif Zardari, co-chairperson of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP). “The package is an attempt to curb the independence of judiciary and the restoration of top judges is linked with unacceptable proposals,” he said in a press statement here in Lahore.
“The proposed restriction of sue motto notices by chief justice is a direct attack on the poor of Pakistan. In almost 90 percent sue motto notices have been taken in regards to the conditions of the poor by the chief justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Ahmad Choudry” Farooq Tariq said. He declared the proposal to reduce the age of the chief just is unacceptable; this is to act on minus one formula.
“Even Benazir Bhutto did not accept a proposal to reduce the ages of the top judges by General Musharaf in secret meeting with her in Dubai according to her book “Conciliation” Farooq Tariq said. PPP co chairperson Asif Zardari is afraid of an independent judiciary that could take notices of any one including him, the statement said.
“There are good proposals in the package to reduce the dictatorial powers of the president, to bring more power to the parliament, to change the name of NWFP to Phutoonkhawa, and to give more seats for the minorities, but the PPP has tried to link the good proposals with the bad proposals in one go. The PPP leadership is playing cleverly to the sentiments of the people about the president with their own hidden agenda, that is to control the independent judiciary, the statement said.
“The package as whole is unacceptable. PPP government must restore the judges without any condition. The PPP leadership should not link the two issues in one package. We want the office of president without dictatorial powers but also an independent judiciary. PPP leadership is playing a dangerous game. PPP leadership must learn from the history. It is not doing anything to stop the growing price hike and poverty and implementing the neo liberal agenda. It wants a judiciary that should act on their tips. We will not let it happen. We appeal to all the working class in Pakistan not to go along with PPP constitutional proposals and continue their struggle to overthrow General Musharaf and to restore the top judges,” Farooq Tariq added.