Pakistan Leaders Say No “Outside Clearance” Needed on Impeachment
[Passages within double slant lines in Urdu]
Islamabad PTV News in English at 1249 gmt on 7 August continues to carry a “press briefing” by Senator Asif Ali Zardari and Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif live from Zardari House in Islamabad. Audio/ video reception is fair to good.
Responding to the first question by Absar Alam of Geo News about the use of Article 58-2/B [gives president the power to dissolve the National Assembly] by President Musharraf, Zardari says: “//God willing, I do not think that at the moment the democracy and our coalition is so weak that the Article 58/2B could be used. And if someone does not love Pakistan and if he did this act then it will be his last verdict against the people, against the people’s mandate, and against Pakistan. And, God willing, very soon within this month, we would fix the date to summon the National Assembly and the provincial assemblies. We are summoning the National Assembly and will initiate consultations with other friends. God willing, we hope 90 per cent success from this parliament even if those friends are not with us. Everyone believes in democracy. And I think that all political forces//…. [pauses] I call upon People’s Party in the name of Shaheed [martyr] Mohtarma [Ms] Benazir Bhutto and the people of Pakistan to make true the last will and testament of Shaheed Mohtarma in her book where she says my death will be the catalyst of change.
“//Change does not mean that we sit idle and take dictation from some cleric or we become dependent for everything. We have to make Pakistan, have to make a new Pakistan. This Pakistan has been shattered. He [Musharraf] has weakened Pakistan. God willing, we will make Pakistan.//”
“Sharif further adds by saying: “I will add a little bit here. Mr Absar Alam, tell me, you are saying what will happen if 58-2/B is used? Firstly, this is not the Pakistan of 80′s and 90′s that somebody comes and shows the door to a fairly functional government. This Pakistan has changed a lot now. There is a free press in it. You, too, have struggled for your freedom and we have also supported your freedom struggle a lot and therefore we want that an independent judiciary is here which could protect it. Would he use 58-2/B only because we think the parliament has decided to impeach a person who has committed such huge atrocities against Pakistan. Will he use the 58-2/B only for this reason. He had said while in uniform that this is my uniform, decide my eligibility today and declare that I am eligible to be elected president of Pakistan. And when they [deposed judges] resisted they were relieved. And, today, when the parliament is demonstrating its sovereignty and is calling spade a spade he would use the 58-2/B that okay you can also go. Today, this country, this nation, this parliament is not willing to accept any 58-2/B.//”
On an indistinct question, Sharif says: “//This country can no longer afford any martial law or frankly any 58-2/B nor an adventure by any adventurer. Everyone should note this thing. This country has been offended repeatedly. There have been offences of martial law, military interventions, and 58-2/B. People’s elected parliaments have been sent home without any reason. I do not know how Pakistan has survived these wounds. And I do not think that Pakistan is still capable to survive more such wounds anymore. Secondly, you said about the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s [PML-N's] return to the cabinet, Mr Zardari has just read to you a joint communique wherein he asked for return of the PML-N people to the cabinet. God willing, I would respond positively to every thing that Mr Zardari has said. God willing, we will take our decision about this by tomorrow. And I think that, okay, //ups and downs// do come but today we are united like a solid rock.//”
Zardari adds by saying: “Let me answer the first part of the question which was addressed to me.// In my view, it is a democratic process. This could have been taken as a major step in the past but in our democratic strength and before our current strength it is not a major step. So I would not declare it a major step. And I think it is a routine matter. This democracy is our right. It is the right of the people to have their democratic right and complete their democracy and their president.”
To a question from Azhar Farooq of ARY about restoration of judges through executive order and the timeframe in this regard, Sharif says: “//We are still standing where we were on 18 February. Did you see me standing somewhere else? I am still standing there. And we have been continuously talking to Mr Zardari on this for the last four months. We are absolutely firm on the Murree Declaration. And even today you have heard it from Mr Zardari’s mouth that judges would be restored after Musharraf’s impeachment and there is no second opinion on this. And he has also talked about Muree Declaration according to which they would be restored. And the second thing is that to us whether it is impeachment or the restoration of the judges, our both these demands have been running parallel. Rather it is our agenda. It is our manifesto. And we think, it is written in the Charter of Democracy, it is part of the Charter of Democracy. And then I should also tell you that impeachment is as much important as is restoration of judges. And the issue of restoration of judges is as much important as is impeachment. And we have accepted this [impeachment] first. We have not withdrawn from our demand for the restoration of judges. We do not want to see this coalition in Pakistan falling apart. We do not want to see democracy confronting any threat. Both are our responsibilities, which we have fulfilled and are fulfilling.//”
To a question by Nawaz Raza of Nawa-i-Waqt that whether this was final announcement regarding the restoration of judges and whether they could give any final deadline regarding Musharraf’s impeachment, Sharif says: “//Look, Mr Zardari has just talked about impeachment. I think this work is going to start within next few days. And as Mr Zardari said that every provincial assembly will pass a resolution and challenge the unconstitutional position of Mr Musharraf. They will discuss that he is an unconstitutional and illegal president. And I think that he [Musharraf] has committed such acts which are tantamount to putting Pakistan in danger. Never ever in this country a court was disbanded like this nor is there any chance of the same in future. Mr Musharraf disbanded the court in this country. He dissolved the parliament, violated the Constitution, broke the law, did not even spare the court. Now tell me, should such person remain the president of this country? So our programme will start from the provincial assemblies and will come into the National Assembly within a few days. You will see.//”
In reply to a question whether Musharraf would be tried for his crimes, Zardari says: “//This is the decision of the parliament. This will be the decision of democracy. And I would leave it to the parliament.//”
On a question about Makhdoom Amin Fahim, Zardari says: “//We consider him our elder and blessings are sought from elders. God willing, that would be sought. And your second question is for Mian Sahib.//”
Sharif adds: “//What you have said [about] the matter of the president after the impeachment. I, Mr Zardari, Mr Maulana Fazlur Rehman, and Mr Asfandyar Wali we will decide on it jointly.//”
Zardari chips in to add: “//And I should make it clear that we will invite all political forces on this matter of presidency and will try to take all political forces along on this matter to choose a president who is not disputed.//”
On question of Asma of Geo News on whether judges would be restored through an executive order or a constitutional package, Zardari says: “For the information of the people at large…[pauses] //Let me take public into confidence// that once monitor [Musharraf] is no more there then the will of the parliament is the voice of the people. So we can do it from any angle you want. We will go for the demand of the people. //So far as NRO [National Reconciliation Ordinance] is concerned why would Asif Ali Zardari be fearful with it today when he and Pakistan People’s Party had so close brush with gallows in the jail for last eight years. It was last historical document by Benazir Bhutto from Gari Khudabaksh which she got signed from them. A [Musharraf] person who used to say that he would not allow Nawaz Sharif and Benazir Bhutto enter the country, he saw it [Sharif and Bhutto's return to country] in his own lifetime. It is Ghulam Ishaq Khan’s [late president of Pakistan] oath ! which he had administered me if you remember. Praise be to God, NRO is a political statement.// It’s legal identity one way or the other is not important.”
In reply to question on requirement of fresh oath by deposed judges and PML-N’s reservations about restoration of eight judges of Sindh, Sharif says: “//The question you asked, Zardari read the joint statement in which he clearly said that they would restore the judges strictly by Murree Declaration. Therefore, that is the answer to your question. The other thing about our reservations about eight judges of Sindh is that we have conveyed them to Zardari yesterday. Those reservations have been addressed to. And you might have learned that from television today.//”
About question that so far only the politicians have undergone punishments not the military dictators and possibility of punishment to Musharraf for his crimes, Sharif says: “//I have noted your advice.//”
In reply to another indistinct question, Zardari says: “//Let me tell you that in democracy, the democratic forces have to move on with prudence and consultation. And position of the country has to be kept in view. So after keeping in view the delicacy of that time we took that decision and today took this decision in the same spirit.”
About the required strength in the parliament to impeach Musharraf, Zardari says: “You got the answer from the crowd. I would not go there. But as far as Pakistan People’s Party is concerned I think our services to democracy are well documented and I need no proof, no certification from any body. Thank you.”
On question about addressing the problems like load-shedding and price-hike faced by the people, Zardari says: “//God will, let me tell you as I have said before and newspapers and entire media know the cause of the wheat shortage and hike in oil prices. Who did not set up power plants in last 10 years? So because of this question, we want that General Musharraf is impeached.//”
About doubts of required strength to impeach Musharraf, Zardari says: “//Do not lose your nerve. We have votes as well as the guts. And we have the political will, too.//”
About a question on impression that army and the United States are behind Pervez Musharraf, Zardari says: “Gentlemen, democracy does not ask of any body. It tells you.” Sharif chips in to say: “This question looks like a joke to me. It is our internal matter and I think we should not be seeking any NOC [No Objection Certificate] from outside forces to deal with our internal issues.”
At 1309 gmt, the two leaders end their “press briefing”.
Originally published by PTV News, Islamabad, in English 1249 07 Aug 08.
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