Lahore: Former Pakistan premier Nawaz Sharif called on President Pervez Musharraf on Tuesday, to reinstate members of the pre-Emergency judiciary, saying that the doffing of his military uniform will not be enough to ensure a complete transition to civilian democracy.
Sharif, who met several judges of the superior judiciary who refused to take oath under the Provisional Constitutional Order (PCO) issued by Musharraf, said: "We salute all the judges who have not taken oath under the PCO. They stand for the solidarity of Pakistan".
He told reporters that the military ruler will have to ensure that all steps taken since the imposition of Emergency on November 3 are rolled back.
Musharraf has quit as Army Chief on Wednesday, ahead of taking oath as a civilian president but Sharif, who returned to Pakistan from seven years in exile on Sunday, said this would not be enough.
Sharif and his brother Shahbaz Sharif called on deposed Justice Khwaja Muhammad Sharif, Supreme Court Justice Khalil-ur-Rehman Ramday and lawyer Aitzaz Ahsan, all currently under house arrest.
However, a strong police contingent posted outside Ahsan's home prevented him from meeting with the lawyer who had defended deposed Supreme Court Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry when Musharraf tried to dismiss him in March.
Shahbaz said police had conveyed a message to them that they should not meet any deposed judges, but Sharif had told the authorities that he was determined to meet judges and lawyers opposing the emergency.
Sharif met Ahsan's wife Bushra and told her the PML-N would not field any candidate against him in the general election. Ahsan yesterday filed nomination papers to contest the parliamentary polls as a candidate of the Pakistan People's Party.
"We fully appreciate his services for supremacy of law and democracy. Not only will the PML-N not contest the election against him but our party workers will play their role for his success in the polls, as he is a candidate of the whole nation and not any single party," Sharif said.
He criticised the government for confining Ahsan and demanded his immediate release.
Sharif also went to the Lahore Press Club to express solidarity with journalists protesting against the Emergency.
He said, "The emergency must be lifted, the judiciary be restored and freedom of press must be ensured to allow democracy to march forward".
When asked whether the PML-N would boycott the election, Sharif said consultations were on with members of the All Parties Democratic Movement and the PPP to decide on this issue. "I contacted the PPP chairperson on phone and she said that consultations are in progress in her party on this issue," Sharif said.
Sharif filed nomination papers for the January 8 general election on Monday, and ruled out serving as prime minister under Musharraf. He also said Musharraf's decision to take off his army uniform did not "mean he is a legitimate president of the country".
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