PML-N to take part in lawyer’s sit-in

PML-N to take part in lawyer’s sit-in 
 
Wednesday, 18 Feb, 2009 | 08:34 PM PST | 
 
 
Sharif has pledged to support the lawyers' movement. - Reuters 

LAHORE: The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has finally announced its decision to take part in a proposed sit-in by dissatisfied lawyers in Islamabad on March 16.

‘We have decided to take part in the lawyers sit-in besides their long-march,’ Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah told journalists outsides the provincial assembly here on Wednesday. 

A civil protest has been organized by a group of dissatisfied lawyers for the restoration of the judicial bench of Nov 2, 2007 which they believe was unjustly dismissed by former President Pervez Musharraf.
 
The PML-N leaders earlier hinted that it might not participate in the sit-in at Constitutional Avenue. The PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif said that his party had not been taken into confidence regarding the long-march and sit-in.  

The law minister further maintained that Nawaz Sharif’s statement was misunderstood as he had already made it clear to lawyers that PML-N was with them for restoration of the judiciary. 

‘Mian Nawaz Sharif and Shahbaz Sharif are committed to the movement for restoration of judiciary… there is no question of backing out.’

Though the long-march organizing committee has not yet contacted the PML-N leadership over the issue, Rana Sanaullah says his party conveys to them that it is with them in all matters.

A source in the PML-N informed Dawn that the fear of losing popular support made the leadership revisit its earlier decision.