Something more explosive yet to come

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It was unbelievable for Musharraf camp. March 9, 2007 was a bad day for Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry when he was removed from his office.

Exactly one year after that incident, March 9, 2008 was really a bad day in the life of President Musharraf. Two big victors of the recent elections announced on the same day in Bhurban that they will restore all deposed judges including Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry. Something more unbelievable for Musharraf is yet to come soon.

The president’s camp was not expecting any breakthrough between Asif Ali Zardari and Nawaz Sharif on the restoration of judges. Musharraf was given assurance by some fifth columnists within the PPP ranks that “we will convince Asif Ali Zardari not to trust Nawaz Sharif and don’t restore Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry because he could become a threat for you.”

Some people were also trying to create misunderstandings against Asif Ali Zardari in the PML-N camp. They were telling Nawaz Sharif that Zardari have secret contacts with Musharraf, he is under US pressure, he will not restore judges and PML-N should stay away from joining federal cabinet.

But fifth columnists on both sides failed to deliver anything to the Musharraf camp. Aitzaz Ahsan taunted one of them in his press conference in Lahore on Sunday evening.

Asif Ali Zardari and Nawaz Sharif signed an undertaking on March 9, 2008 not only for the restoration of deposed judges but they also agreed to join cabinet both at federal and Punjab level.

It was important to note that some PPP lawyers were missing from the joint press conference on Sunday who were claiming just one day ago that only a constitutional amendment with two-third majority could restore the deposed judges.

PPP lawyer Senator Farooq Naik and PML-N leader Khawaja Muhammad Asif played a vital role in saving the Nawaz-Zardari friendship from the Mir Jaffers and Mir Sadiqs from both sides.

A joint press conference by Asif Ali Zardari and Nawaz Sharif on March 9 was like a bombshell for the president’s camp. Decisions announced at Bhurban were not the end of the story. Something more explosive has also been decided between the two new political friends and these decisions will be announced at some other proper time.

PPP and PML-N have decided that after the restoration of judges through a parliamentary resolution, new ruling coalition will ‘request’ Musharraf to step down respectfully.

Initially, Nawaz Sharif wanted to arrest and try Musharraf in a court of law on treason charges but Asif Ali Zardari convinced him not to humiliate the enemy and provide him a ’safe passage.’ Zardari agreed that if Musharraf will not agree to step down then the new ruling coalition may go for his impeachment.

It is learnt that at least one close friend of Musharraf has advised him to step down from the office honourably and also requested him that he should not become a tool in the hands of PML-Q leaders who have already lost everything.

Some PML-Q leaders tried to contact Makhdoom Amin Fahim who was missing from the joint press conference of Nawaz Sharif and Asif Ali Zardari on Sunday. PML-Q leaders sent messages to Makhdoom Amin Fahim on Saturday and Sunday that they will support him in case PPP nominates someone else for the post of prime minister.

It is also learnt that Makhdoom Amin Fahim never gave any encouraging response to PML-Q and its ’secret patrons.’ One PPP legislature from Sindh said that Makhdoom sahib cannot afford any revolt against Zardari, his biggest supporters like Khurshid Shah and Raza Rabbani were sitting with Zardari in Bhurban and he is not in a position to form any big group against Zardari within the party.

Top PPP sources claimed that after agreement on the restoration of judges, nomination of new PM will not be a difficult decision for Zardari. A PPP MNA from Karachi Nabel Gabol said that Zardari have made it clear to us in the presence of Makhdoom Amin Fahim that PPP was not offered the premiership in 2002 and surprisingly Makhdoom sahib never questioned the claim of Zardari. PPP co-chairperson also revealed to his colleagues that Major General Ehtesham Zamir of ISI told me in front of Makhdoom sahib in 2002 that “we can offer you anything other than {the post of}prime minister” but we declined after consulting late Benazir Bhutto.

On the other side, Makhdoom Amin Fahim told his friends that actually he was offered PM slot in 1990 by the then ISI chief Hameed Gul. PPP sources claimed that Asif Ali Zardari may give a surprise by announcing his nominee for PM. He may nominate a person other than Makhdoom Amin Fahim and Chaudhry Ahmad Mukhtar. Nawaz Sharif have assured Zardari that PML-N will give full support to any person nominated by PPP and any efforts to create differences in PPP will be defeated jointly.

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