The issue of restoration of judges threatened the existence of the newly elected democratic government. PML-N’s Nawaz Sharif went to Dubai to meet the PPP co-chief, Asif Zardari to resolve the deadlock in view of the approaching deadline of April 301. Zardari on his part maintained that the reinstatement of judges would be done through a constitutional package2. The crisis could be averted after two rounds of talk between the parties of the ruling coalition in Islamabad, after which reports noted that the judiciary was likely to be reinstated on May 12 by a resolution of the National Assembly3.

In a related development, an official spokesperson speaking on behalf of President Musharraf affirmed that the President would oppose the process of restoration of judges and seek a stay order to that effect from the Supreme Court4.

Meanwhile, the peace talks initiated by the Pakistani government with the militants suffered a setback as the supreme commander of the Tehrik-i-Taliban (TTP), Baitullah Mehsud decided to discontinue the talks with the tribal Jirga. Reports noted that he was unhappy with the federal and the NWFP governments and that he had termed their efforts towards peace as being not genuine5.

• 1. Amir Wasim and Amjad Mahmood, “Nawaz in last-ditch attempt to avert coalition collapse,” Dawn, April 30, 2008, at http://www.dawn.com/2008/04/30/top1.htm
• 2. “Asif insists on constitutional package: Reinstatement of judges,” Dawn, April 29, 2008, at http://www.dawn.com/2008/04/29/top2.htm
• 3. Babar Dogar, “Judges to be restored on 12th: Nawaz,” The News, May 3, 2008, at http://www.thenews.com.pk/arc_default.asp
• 4. Tariq Butt, “Presidency set to block return of judges,” The News, May 2, 2008, at http://www.thenews.com.pk/arc_default.asp
• 5. “Mehsud suspends peace talks,” The News, May 4, 2008, at http://www.thenews.com.pk/arc_default.asp