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Pak thick with rumours that Sharief may go

With Prime Minister Nawaz Sharief, backed by his party members, reiterating the 'superiority' of parliament and the talks between President Farooq Leghari and army chief Lieutenant General Jehangir Karamat reportedly veering around proposals to replace the premier, the legal crisis that has entangled Pakistan seems far from over.

Even as the supreme court is to resume hearing on the contempt of court case against the prime minister and 11 other respondents on Friday, November 28, none of the parties has apparently reached any agreement on resolving the imbroglio.

A three-hour deliberation between Leghari and General Karamat last night could not yield any result. However, political circles were thick with rumours that Sharief may not be their choice for the prime ministership and retired Lieutenant General Abdul Majid Malik could succeed him.

Sharief, who was simultaneously holding a meeting with his parliamentary party and allied party leaders, told the media later that his supporters were banking on the proposal to initiate a constitutional amendment which would curtail the chief justice's powers. It would also reduce the period of 30 days given to the president under the constitution to give assent to a bill passed by parliament.

''We have every right to bring about any legislation and nobody can stop parliament from performing its duties. Parliament felt that the process of legislation had greatly been affected and its course disrupted due to the prevailing state of confusion,'' the premier said. ''Therefore, we have decided to do away with all such hindrances in the best interest of the country.''

Claiming that he had full support of his party and members of all allies, Sharief said they wanted the president to be impeached.

On a question whether any other group was playing a role to defuse the tension, the prime minister pleaded ignorance. ''I am talking about my quarter (parliament) which is performing its duty in accordance with the rule of law and constitution and each of our action is in line with the constitution,'' he said.

Sharief dismissed the allegation that he had compromised the sovereignty of parliament in the pursuit of power.

UNI

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