Negotiations between the PPP and the PML-N to resolve the issue of judiciary could not be resolved even after the US Assistant Secretary of State Richard Boucher reportedly made an intervention to facilitate reconciliation1. The PML-N on its part registered its protest by walking out of the federal cabinet. The announcement to this effect was made by PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif on May 12 in Islamabad. Sharif has however clarified that the PML-N would continue to support the government to sustain democracy2. Soon after the PML-N pullout, the leader of the PPP in the Senate, Raza Rabbani assured the Upper House that the judges would be reinstated even though the talks had failed3.

In a related development, the government made a proposal to reappoint the deposed judges of the provincial High Courts by asking them to undertake fresh oaths4. The arrangement reportedly could not materialize as the new offer would make these judges junior to their colleagues who had earlier accepted to function within the PCO in November 20075.

In other developments, reports noted that missile strikes from US spy planes killed at least 14 people in Damadola village in Bajaur region during the week6. The US refused to comment on the incident. Washington has meanwhile toughened its stance on the ongoing talks that the Pakistani government was conducting with the militants and called for concrete results from the negotiations7. As a result of the peace talks with Baitullah Mehsud, the Taliban released Tariq Azizuddin, Pakistan’s Ambassador to Afghanistan on May 17, after 97 days of captivity8.

• 1. M. Ziauddin, “Judges’ reinstatement hopes shattered: London talks collapse despite Boucher’s last-minute intervention,” Dawn, May 12, 2008, at http://www.dawn.com/2008/05/12/top1.htm
• 2. Amir Wasim, “PML-N walks out after hitting brick wall: Judges issue splits coalition; ministers to quit federal cabinet today,” Dawn, May 13, 2008, at http://www.dawn.com/2008/05/13/top1.htm
• 3. Raja Asghar, “Judges will be reinstated, Senate assured,” Dawn, May 13, 2008, at http://www.dawn.com/2008/05/13/top5.htm
• 4. Ansar Abbasi, “Govt makes offer to reappoint deposed judges,” The News, May 14, 2008, at http://thenews.jang.com.pk/arc_default.asp
• 5. Wajih Ahmad Sheikh, “Fresh oath rejected,” The News, May 14, 2008, at http://thenews.jang.com.pk/arc_default.asp
• 6. Mushtaq Yusufzai, “ Dozens dead as missiles hit Bajaur village,” The News, May 15, 2008, at
  http://thenews.jang.com.pk/arc_default.asp
• 7. Anwar Iqbal, “US toughens stance on govt’s talks with militants,” Dawn, May 16, 2008, at http://www.dawn.com/2008/05/16/top2.htm
• 8. Ismail Khan, “Azizuddin is home after 97 days,” Dawn, May 18, 2008, at http://www.dawn.com/2008/05/18/top1.htm