The resignation of Pervez Musharraf put the heads of ruling coalition in a quandary as on Monday they failed to agree on whether he be provided safe passage or he should face trial. Finally it was decided to hold another round of talks today (Tuesday) to come up with a consensus on this thorny issue.

The heads of the ruling coalition Asif Ali Zardari, Mian Nawaz Sharif, Asfandyar Wali and Maulana Fazalur Rehman along with their aides held a meeting at Zardari House here Monday after the speech of Pervez Musharraf announcing his resignation, to discuss the issues cropping up in the wake of his resignation. These included a safe passage to Musharraf or his trial, the new president and restoration of the deposed judges in the light of the Islamabad declaration.

Most of the time of the six-hour long meeting was consumed in debating whether Pervez Musharraf be given a safe passage or be tried in the courts on the basis of the charge-sheet framed by the committee for his impeachment.

According to sources, the safe passage or trial overshadowed the issues of the deposed judges and no decision could be arrived at. After the meeting the heads of the coalition parties left Zardari House without talking to the media.

Sources said that restoration of the judges was not discussed much as there was a consensus that the issue was to be settled according to the Islamabad declaration of August 7. However, the issue of modalities of bringing a resolution in the National Assembly for the restoration of the deposed judges was assigned to a two-member committee comprising Leader of House in the Senate Mian Raza Rabbani and Senator Ishaq Dar. Sources said that the committee would present its report to the heads of the coalition in their meeting today (Tuesday) to take a decision on the timing of moving the resolution.

Sources said the issue of indemnifying Musharraf was the core issue. It was the bone of contention between the PPP and PML-N as Nawaz Sharif told the meeting in clear words that there should be no safe passage to Musharraf and he should be put to trial in the courts of law.

However, the PPP camp was divided on the issue as those who were involved in giving the guarantees for his safe passage opposed while hawks in the PPP favoured a trial. Despite the soft view of PPP and other coalition heads, PML-N was not prepared to show any flexibility.

Sources said Asfandyar Wali was also close to the proposal of Asif Zardari to give safe passage as part of the deal brokered by diplomats of UK, USA, and Saudi Arabia. Sources said the PML-N expressed its reservations about the decision of the government to give assurance of ‘blanket indemnity’ for Musharraf to foreign diplomats without taking coalition partners into confidence.

Sources said that it was decided to take up the issue again in the meeting on Tuesday after holding consultations within the parties. Sources disclosed that PPP proposed three names for the next president, Speaker National Assembly Dr Fehmida Mirza, Faryal Talpur and Aftab Shahban Meerani, while the PML-N proposed the names of Sardar Ataullah Mengal and Mehmood Khan Achackzai.

However, sources said so far no consensus could be developed on one candidate and it was decided to continue deliberations on the issue in today’s meeting and to form a committee for a consensus before giving final list to the leadership to choose one of them. Sources said there was a consensus on the name of Asfandyar wali but he refused and that put the ruling coalition in difficulty to find out the consensus candidate.

End.

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