Nawaz Sharif's PML-N party on Saturday demanded for President Pervez Musharraf to be tried for treason.
ISLAMABAD: Former premier Nawaz Sharif's PML-N party on Saturday demanded for President Pervez Musharraf to be tried for treason even as ruling PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari approved a proposed constitutional reforms package aimed at clipping the military ruler's powers.
In a reaction to Zardari's statement on Friday that the PML-N is pursuing an aggressive approach for impeaching Musharraf while the PPP stood for the path of dialogue, PML-N information secretary Ahsan Iqbal said dialogue is held on the "basis of principles".
"The President does not deserve any leniency," Iqbal said. "The PML-N strongly believes that instead of being given safe exit, he should be prosecuted under Article 6 of the constitution (for treason)."
Iqbal said the "President's departure was inevitable and it was only a question of time". He added: "The President should see the writing on the wall and quit so that the people and the elected parliament are able to elect the head of state."
Amidst heightened speculation about Musharraf's continuation in office, Iqbal said his party was against holding any dialogue with Musharraf as he was responsible for "subversion of the constitution". This stance of the party is in keeping with the wishes and mandate of the people of
Pakistan, he said.
Meanwhile, Zardari today gave final approval to the constitutional reforms package which was submitted to him on Friday by Law Minister Farooq Naek.
Zardari suggested some changes which were incorporated in the package, an official statement said.
The package, which seeks to strip Musharraf of his powers to dissolve the parliament and appoint the chiefs of the armed forces, will now be circulated among the PPP's coalition partners, including the PML-N, Awami National Party and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam, to get their views.
A copy of the package will also be handed over to the Muttahida Qaumi Movement, which is an ally of the PPP in the government of Sindh province. Law Minister Naek will meet PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif in Lahore tomorrow to discuss the package.
The statement said further changes could be made to the package according to suggestions from the PPP's coalition partners and other stakeholders.
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