LAHORE (agencies): Parliament will make a decision on the restoration of sacked judges and the impeachment of President General Pervez Musharraf, Prime Minister (PM) Yousaf Raza Gillani said on Wednesday.

The premier told APP after attending a South Asian Association for Regional Corporation (SAARC) seminar, ‘Economic Freedom’, that President Musharraf’s future would be decided according to the Constitution. Gillani also visited former premier Nawaz Sharif at his Raiwind residence, Online reported.

The PM told the media that the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) would continue pursuing a policy of reconciliation by taking all political parties on board, adding that coalition partners would be consulted on all issues.

MQM: Asked whether the process of dialogue for reconciliation with the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) was over, he said, “There are ups and downs in politics but the policy to seek reconciliation will continue.”

About the MQM’s threatening statements, he said, “We don’t believe in the politics of bullying others.”

Regarding the recent violence in Multan, he said, “The power and flour crises are the result of the wrong policies of the previous regime. The present government will overcome all these problems with the co-operation of the people.”

Multan violence: Gillani said the protesters involved in the violence wanted to divert people’s attention from the real issues, adding that they probably targeted Multan because it was his hometown. Gillani said peace was vital for the economic development of the country, and urged people to remain peaceful and foil the evil designs of saboteurs.

Thousands of people angered by power cuts staged a violent protest in Multan on Monday, leaving 40 people wounded and around 50 under arrest. Police fired shots into the air and launched tear gas shells to disperse demonstrators after they attacked the offices of the Multan Electric Power Company (MEPCO) and torched two banks, a petrol station, dozens of shops and several vehicles.

“We don’t believe in the politics of … rigging and coercion. We are a peace loving people and want peaceful resolution of all [issues],” he said.

Replying to another question, Gillani said he was not aware of Justice Falak Sher being promoted as the chief justice of Pakistan. He said the coalition of the PML-N and the PPP was committed to reinstate the sacked judges as per the Murree Declaration.

The declaration stated that parliament would pass a resolution to restore the sacked judges within 90 days of its functioning.

Former Punjab chief minister Shahbaz Sharif, Punjab Chief Minister Dost Muhammad Khosa, former Punjab governor Zulfiqar Khosa, Hussain Nawaz and Hamza Shahbaz were also present.

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