Clever Move by the Presidency
ByDr. Ghayur Ayub
London, UK
According to a news report, the presidency has prepared a draft constitutional amendment bill for the restoration of the sacked judges whose list excludes Ch Mohammad Iftikhar. I see a fivefold objective behind this move:
1. To make parties like PML-N accept the PCO-PLUS of November 3, 2007 as a constitutional act.
2. To give a breathing space to President Musharaf (who is under tremendous pressure to quit) by diverting the attention of those who want to see him go.
3. To put Nawaz Sharif in a tight corner and create a wedge in his party, especially when the future of the Punjab Assembly is not yet clear.
4. To compel Aitzaz Ahsan to adopt a compromised stance (otherwise he would not have said that he had some reservations over the draft bill instead of rejecting it outrightly). It is reported that he is eyeing the NA 55 seat and waiting for a nod from the annoyed Asif Zardari.
5. To weaken PPP by creating a rift within the party.
