"The joint committee of the APDM (the Nawaz Sharif-led All-Pakistan Democratic Movement) and ARD (Ms Bhutto's Alliance for Restoration of Democracy) has finalised 13 points out of 15 to compose the charter of demands during its final meeting (on Thursday). But the committee failed to come up with consensus on the issues related to reinstatement of deposed judges and restoration of the Constitution," committee members Senator Raza Rabbani and Ishar Dar told a press conference on Thursday night.
The difference on two of the main points and departure of Ms Bhutto to Dubai on Friday means that possibly there will be no more talks between the two major Opposition parties. "Both the alliances though agree on the notion that the judiciary should be independent but hold difference of opinion about the mechanism to make it independent," Mr Rabbani said. "There are two opinions on reinstatement of deposed judges," he added.
Both Mr Rabbani and Mr Dar refused to make the draft charter details with the media and said that the same would only be made public after its approval by Mr Sharif and Ms Bhutto. Reiterating the stance that the option to boycott remains open, they were of the view that the group don't want postponement of the schedule of the general elections.
Responding to various queries, they said that the matter of independence of the judiciary was a policy matter and should be decided by the judiciary itself or by the next Parliament.
Sources privy to the meeting told this newspaper that the committee would give government the deadline of December 12 or 13 to meet the charter of demands and or else they would jointly boycott the elections.