Constitutional Package in Despair. Another Crisis in Making?

Just a day or two ahead of the scheduled presentation of constitutional amendment package in the parliament and the address of President Asif Ali Zardari, Mian Muhammad Nawaz Shareef addressed a press conference in Islamabad on 25 March 2010 and stunned everybody. He said that consensus on procedure for appointment of judges in superior judiciary could not be achieved with the government and hence the constitutional amendment bill will delayed for its presentation in the parliament. He also suggested that Chief Justice of The Supreme Court may be consulted for the proposed amendment. He said that issue of renaming of North Western Frontier Province is also to be decided as yet.

This has created a stir in the political circles. Many doubts / questions are being raised about the real intentions of PML-N. Will the Pakistani nation ever hear the long awaited good news of repealing the notorious 17^th amendment introduced by ex president General Pervez Musharaf in the constitution? The new suggestions put forward by Nawaz Shareef have become controversial even in legal fraternity, not to talk of the political parties. It seems as if the onus of resolving the issue has been placed on Nawaz Shareef instead of the ruling party PPP led by Mr. Asif Ali Zardari. We hope that all the stake-holders will learn lessons from the past and settle this crucial matter within days (not even weeks) so that the nation resumes its journey towards its objectives of true democracy and rule of law.