Informed sources told Business Recorder here on Friday that the Presidency had agreed to strip himself of powers he enjoys under the 17th Amendment of the Constitution. Zardari's change of heart on these issues came after he imposed a highly controversial governor's rule on Punjab following the verdict of Supreme Court, disqualifying the Sharif brothers. In return, the PML (N) will back the government to accord protection to the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) from the parliament, according to the sources.
However, the president has not changed his stance over the issue of reinstatement of deposed judges including the Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry. There is no place for any judge who took oath ever under the Provisional Constitutional Order (PCO). The deposed CJ had taken oath under the PCO after General Musharraf-led military take over in 1999, overthrowing the then government of Nawaz Sharif.
The President is also amenable to undo the irritants in 17th Amendment. In order to bring the PML (N) back to the negotiating table, repealing of the 17th Amendment would remove a major reservation of the PML (N) over the ban on becoming the Prime Minister and Chief Minister for third time. These restrictions will be removed, the sources said.
Apart from the judges issue, the bar on becoming the PM and CM for the third time also was a serious bottleneck in negotiations between the two major political parties. The removal of the bar is part of the CoD signed by Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif. After the assassination Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, the PPP co chairman and the party leadership deviated from what was already agreed in the CD.
A PML (N) leader, when contacted, said that President Zardari has lost his credibility with us. No body can guarantee on his behalf. He (Zardari) makes promises just to break them. He said he did not think that PML (N) will enter into another round of negotiations which are to be held with Zardari. However, he clarified that the party could hold talks with some leaders of the PPP like the Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and others.
The party would not hesitate to talk to the leaders of other parties. The PML (N) will never beg for mercy. We need nothing from Zardari, he added. It is will be next to impossible that Zardari will agree to become a titular president. Insiders say that the PPP central leadership is not happy over the Supreme Court decision against Sharif brothers. They say that the PPP will have to give more concessions to the PML (N) in order to repair the damage.
Anything short of reinstatement of deposed judges would hardly woo the PML (N). The real issue in resumption of negotiations between the two major political parties is the availability of a guarantor, that could be acceptable to the PML (N). Even ANP leader Asfandiyar Wali Khan and JUI-F leader Maulana Fazl-ur-Rahman are not sure that they could play a role of a guarantor in the background when the PML (N) has lost confidence in the president.
Political analysts are of the view that it is a fact that CoD signed by Nawaz Sharif and Benazir Bhutto does say that no PCO judge would ever be appointed in superior courts. PML (N) makes a point that it was Benazir Bhutto who rejected the proclamation of Musharraf's emergency and sending home the judges who refused to take oath in allegiance to the former President. The PPP leadership can still use the card of saving the political system from adventurism of undemocratic forces.
The PPP will definitely use this card, it is hoped, they said. At several occasions, Benazir made public statements in favour of deposed judges including the CJ Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry. However, the PPP says that during her lifetime, Benazir had taken serious notice when Supreme Court had taken up the petitions challenging the NRO. The PPP insiders are also of the view that after promulgation of governor' rule on Punjab, there is nothing at stake of the PML (N). Around 35 members of the Punjab Assembly, who are commonly known as PML (Q) forward bloc, are with the PML (N).
They informed the president that formation of Punjab government with PML (Q) support will not be an easy task. Any plan of extending the governor's rule will harm the PPP. If the members of the PML (Q) forward bloc were disqualified and new elections were held, it would be the PML (N) that will win most of those seats.