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Sharif says not made U-turn on Constitutional reforms package
Unfazed by criticism of his step to withdraw support to a landmark Constitutional reforms package, Pakistan's opposition PML-N chief and former premier Nawaz Sharif has said he had "no regrets" over his decision, even as he insisted he had not made a U-turn on the issue.
Unfazed by criticism of his step to withdraw support to a landmark Constitutional reforms package, Pakistan's opposition PML-N chief and former premier Nawaz Sharif has said he had "no regrets" over his decision, even as he insisted he had not made a U-turn on the issue.
"I do not know why people are saying (I have made a U-turn). I have taken no U-turn over the (proposed) amendments," he told a press conference here yesterday, referring to his move's criticism by major political parties.
A parliamentary committee comprising representatives of all parties, including the PML-N, drew up the Constitutional reforms package, aimed at removing changes made to the Constitution by former military rulers Zia-ul-Haq and Pervez Musharraf.
Sharif said he had "no regrets" over the position he had adopted.
"It is not fair to attach the 17th amendment (which gives the President sweeping powers) with other things like renaming North West Frontier Province and appointment of judges," he said.
Sharif had stunned all political parties on Thursday when he announced the PML-N would not back the proposed reforms package due to differences over the procedure for appointing members of the superior judiciary and the renaming of the NWFP.
He announced his stand hours before the parliamentary committee was to sign a report containing its recommendations to remove changes made to the Constitution by Zia-ul-Haq and Musharraf.
