HYDERABAD, Feb 29: Muttahida Qaumi Movement chief Altaf Hussain has accused Nawaz Sharif of betraying the charter of democracy by demanding reinstatement of deposed chief justice of the apex court and other judges because as per clause-3 of the charter, a commission comprising those judges who had not previously taken oath under PCO, would recommend a constitutional amendment.

Mr Hussain asked PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari to beware of Nawaz Sharif. He made it clear that MQM was committed to eliminating the urban-rural divide and extended an unconditional cooperation to the future government even if the Muttahida had to sit on the opposition benches.

He was addressing a women’s general workers meeting at Pucca Qilla ground here on Friday on telephone from London.

He said that the CoD was signed by PPP chairperson Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif much before the November 3 action.

He said that sub-clause A of clause-3 of the charter, dealing with constitutional amendments, reads that “the recommendations for appointment of judges to superior judiciary shall be formulated through a commission headed by a Chief Justice who has never taken oath under the PCO its clause-a (ii) says that members of the commission shall be the chief justices of provincial high courts who have not taken oath under PCO, failing which the senior most judges of high court, who have not taken oath under PCO shall be the members.

He said that when this charter was signed on May 14,2006, Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry, who had taken oath under PCO, was Chief Justice of Supreme Court whereas a binding was incorporated in the charter that all these judges including chief justice, who took oath under PCO, would not be accepted.

“Asif Zardari should also ask Nawaz Sharif to tender apology to people for violating the charter which he singed with the assassinated PPP chairperson Benazir Bhutto”, he said.

He said that MQM would stand for independence of judiciary provided the next government removed all PCO judges and appoint new ones or induct judges like former Justice Saeeduzzaman Siddiqui under the procedure laid down in clause-3(a) of the charter.

He said that exigencies of time demand that the urban-rural divide should be put to an end for getting maximum provincial autonomy, Sindh’s due share in NFC, elimination of joblessness and economic progress of Sindh.

He said that MQM’s actions would be positive and it would not raise any obstacles in the working of the next government.

He said that democratic principles demand that PPP should form government of its own or a coalition with any group in Sindh and it would be fully backed by the MQM. He, however, said that the MQM also expected of PPP that it would not derail the development process initiated by local governments.

He severely criticised Nawaz Sharif for repeatedly saying that the MQM was unacceptable to him. “He is saying it as if we are asking him to accept us.”