Ex-Pakistani PM urges restoration of deposed judges, 50 people and soldiers killed

www.chinaview.cn 2008-08-23 21:27:19  

    By Han Lin

    BEIJING, Aug 23 (Xinhuanet)--

When Pakistan's uneasy coalition partners Saturday discussed restoration of deposed judges and who should be the next president, the Pakistani army killed over 30 militants in the restive Swat valley.

    Restoration of deposed judges

    Former Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, also chief of junior Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Saturday urged the ruling Pakistan People's Party (PPP) to restore the 60 judges who were sacked on Nov. 3 last year when former President Pervez Musharraf declared a state of emergency. 

    The PPP and PML-N emerged as two largest parties in National Assembly in general elections held in February. The two parties agreed in March that they would form a coalition government and the deposed judges should be restored within 30 days since the formation of the government.

    However, they failed to reach a consensus on the judges restoration issue despite several rounds of talks. The PML-N pulled its ministers out of the cabinet in May.

    Election

    The PPP Saturday sent a four-member delegation to meet Sharif in the ruling coalition at his Raiwind Residence in Punjab province.

    The delegation sought Sharif's support for Asif Ali Zardari, Co-Chairman of PPP.

    Sharif clarified that PML-N would support Zardari, Bhutto's widower who has been proposed by PPP as the candidate for the post of President, if the deposed judges were restored.

    Musharraf Monday announced his decision to resign as Pakistani President and the presidential election will be held on Sept. 6.

    Violence

    As the politicians bicker, militant violence has surged.

    The Pakistani army said Saturday that they killed over 30 alleged Taliban members in the restive Swat valley in the northwest after a blast occurred near a police station, killing at least 20 people.

    The suicide bomber rammed a explosive-laden car into a police station in Charbagh Tehsil of Swat valley of North West Frontier Province (NWFP), PTV quoted the police as saying.

    This was the third blast since former Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf declared resignation on Monday.

    The TTP also launched suicide attacks near two gates of the Pakistan Ordnance Factory in Wah Cantt in eastern Pakistan's Punjab province on Thursday, killing at least 70 and injuring dozens.

    On Tuesday, a suicide bomber blew himself up at a hospital in Dera Ismail Khan of the NWFP, killing about 30.

    Stock market     Pakistan's stocks and currency have weakened with no end in sight to the infighting between the two main coalition parties.

    The rupee set a new low of about 77.15 to the dollar on Friday. Stocks finished 2.4 percent lower.

    Pakistan's stock market, which rose for six consecutive years to 2007, and was one of the best-performing markets in Asia in that period, has fallen about 29 percent this year.

Editor: Han