Pak. Cabinet vows to implement S.C. order

By Amit Baruah

ISLAMABAD, MAY 18. The Pakistani Cabinet has resolved to implement the military Government's agenda by October 12, 2002, as laid down in the Supreme Court verdict of May 12.

The Cabinet, at its meeting on Wednesday, resolved to ``accomplish'' the Chief Executive, Gen. Pervez Musharraf's ``declared objectives including introduction of true democracy as contemplated in the verdict''.

``The Cabinet felt that the unanimous decision of the Supreme Court was truly reflective of the independence of the judiciary,'' an official release stated.

It expressed the hope that all state institutions ``will make their contribution in accelerating the process of implementation of the declared agenda, including the pace of accountability''.

The Cabinet decision reflects a recognition of the deadline set by the Supreme Court for a return to elected rule.

PML(N) to move S.C.

In another development, the PML(N), ousted from power by the October 12, 1999, military coup, expressed ``disappointment'' over the military coup and decided to file a review petition in the Supreme Court against the May 12 verdict.

``The Central Working Committee of the Pakistan Muslim League expressed its disappointment that for the third time in Pakistan's history, the Supreme Court has validated a military takeover without defining the limits of the controversial doctrine of necessity, thus opening the door to similar interventions in the future,'' the party said in a resolution passed yesterday.

It held that the blanket condemnation of members of Parliament was neither fair nor justified. ``As our experience clearly shows, allegations against successive political regimes on the basis of which several elected Governments have been dismissed in the past have not been endorsed by history. In fact, many of these chronic shortcomings have continued during the military regimes that followed and, in addition, (there were) much bigger national disasters causing irreparable damage to the territorial integrity of the country.''

The party was also critical of the power granted by the Supreme Court to Gen. Musharraf to amend the Constitution if necessary.

In a related move, Begum Kulsoom Nawaz, wife of the ousted Prime Minister, Mr. Nawaz Sharif, formally joined the PML(N) by signing the ``basic membership'' form.

Strike as scheduled

Religious parties in Pakistan, meanwhile, have decided to go ahead with their planned strike for tomorrow despite the climb- down by Gen. Musharraf on the procedural change in the blasphemy law.

Terming the Chief Executive's announcement that no changes would be made in the blasphemy law as ``welcome'', the Milli Yakjehti Council, an umbrella body of religious parties, said there were nine demands, of which only one had been addressed.

The Council said the ``strike'' would be peaceful and no protest demonstrations or meetings would be held.

The religious parties noted that their demands such as making Friday the weekly holiday and incorporating Islamic provisions in provisional constitutional orders had not been addressed. However, they were prepared to meet the Chief Executive if an invitation was extended to them.

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