LAHORE, April 27: A PML-N delegation headed by the party’s president Mian Shahbaz Sharif was to leave for Dubai on Sunday night to ‘remind Mr Asif Ali Zardari of the approaching deadline set for reinstatement of judges’.

Accompanied by federal ministers Khwaja Asif and Chaudhary Nisar Ali Khan besides Khwaja Haris, Mr Shahbaz will hold talks with PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari on the draft resolution formulated by a committee comprising representatives of both parties.

Sources in the PML-N said Mr Zardari had gone to Dubai with a promise to return home by Sunday afternoon.

“Since he has extended his stay in Dubai, it is necessary for the party (PML-N) to ensure continuity of talks over the issue of reinstatement of judges.

Thus, the party has decided to send a delegation to Dubai instead of waiting for Mr Zardari’s return.”

Talking to Dawn, PML-N spokesman Saddiqul Farooq said that the attitude of the PPP was creating certain doubts.

“Mian Nawaz Sharif has delayed his departure for London only to resolve the issue on a priority basis. But, Mr Zardari has gone for Dubai and delayed his return without giving any reason. The party would like to be informed about the reasons behind the delay and about some PPP ministers’ conflicting statements on the issue,” he said.

“The visit is also meant to remind the PPP co-chairman that the PML-N remains committed both to reinstatement of judges and the timeframe the two parties have set for themselves. The PML-N also needs a clarification on reasons for the delay in tabling the resolution in the National Assembly and subsequent executive order.”

The PML-N wanted to save the coalition government, but not at the cost of the judiciary, he said, adding that the coalition government’s failure to reinstate judges within the stipulated time would vindicate Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain’s contention that the coalition government would not survive more than six months.

“The failure on the judiciary issue would be tantamount to serving death warrants on the coalition. Both parties are committed to the cause of judiciary and are answerable to the people of Pakistan. The people would not forgive the defaulters,” he said.

Meanwhile, a delegation of the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) met PML-N leaders Mian Nawaz Sharif and Shahbaz Sharif at their Raiwind Farm house near Lahore.

The delegation comprised SCBA President Chaudhry Aitzaz Ahsan, former president Munir A. Malik, Hamid Khan, president of the Lahore High Court Bar Anwar Kamal, president of the Sindh High Court Bar Rasheed A. Rizvi, president

of the Balochistan High Court Bar Shabbir Hadi, president

of the Lahore District Bar Manzoor Qadir, vice president the Supreme Court Bar Chaudhry Ghulam Nabi and secretary Amin Javed.

The meeting, which lasted more than two hours, was aimed at reassuring that both sides stand committed to the cause of judiciary as stated in the Bhurban Declaration.

According to Hamid Khan, Mian Nawaz Sharif assured the lawyers that he stood fully committed to the cause and the April 30 deadline for adoption of the resolution and the issuing of an executive order.

Law Minister Farooq Naek, meanwhile, has expressed the hope that the negotiations between the leaders of the PPP and PML-N will be productive, adds APP.

Talking to a private news channel, he tried to dispel the impression that Mr Zardari did not want the deposed judges reinstated.

He said the ruling coalition would remain intact, adding that no dispute was expected with the presidency on the issue.