A showdown in the capital between protesters from across the country and government forces, including the army, appeared imminent after Opposition leader Nawaz Sharif's party dismissed as “deceptive” a major concession announced by the government late Saturday. “This is a deceptive tactic,” Sharif's PML-N party spokesman Siddiq Al-Farouq told Saudi Gazette about the government's announcement that it would seek a review of a Supreme Court decision last month, allegedly influenced by President Asif Ali Zardari, which disqualified Sharif and his brother, Shahbaz, from holding elective office. The ruling brought down the PML-N government in Punjab, which was led by Sharif's brother Shabaz, and saw imposition of governor's rule there. “We reject it,” Al-Farouq said about the review offer, “since we do not recognize the (Provisional Constitution Order) PCO court as a constitutional court.” He said that the “long march” by lawyers and opposition activists would continue as planned and that Sharif would join the marchers in Lahore on Sunday. Clinton's call The government's announcement of its first major concession in the month-long political crisis came in the evening around the time US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton called President Asif Ali Zardari and Sharif to discuss the tense situation. But Sharif remained in no mood for a compromise. “No one is exerting any pressure,” Al-Farouq said about Clinton's call. “By saying that they (the government) will file a review petition in court, they are trying to assure us that they will get a decision in our favor,” Al-Farouq said. “It means that the courts are dictated to by them.” The government's decision to extend an olive branch was made during a meeting between Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and Zardari, a statement from presidential spokesman Farhatullah Babar said. The statement also said both Gilani and Zardari agreed that the issue of the judiciary and restoration of judges would be resolved in accordance with the principles laid down in the Charter of Democracy, a document signed by both the former prime ministers, Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif. But Al-Farouq scoffed at the offer. “We want action, not statements,” he said. “First of all the Murree Declaration that was signed by Zardari has to be fulfilled. Otherwise, nothing will be accepted.” Under the Murree Declaration reached with Sharif in March 2008, the judges sacked by then president Gen. Pervez Musharraf in late 2007 must be reinstated. After Musharraf sacked the judges, he brought judges of his choice into office, all of whom Zardari then inherited when he became president in 2008. Both Zardari and Musharraf are against the reinstatement of fired Chief Justice Iftikhar M. Chaudhry who is likely to reopen corruption cases against Zardari and question the legality of Musharraf's presidency. “We cannot compromise on the restoration of the judiciary and withdrawal of governor's rule in Punjab,” Al-Farouq said, “ for which all Zardari has to do is issue a proclamation.” “And we want restoration of the Constitution or finalization of an amendment to withdraw the 17th amendment,” which Musharraf had forced through in 2003 to give the presidency dictatorial powers. With no sign of the political deadlock breaking, the government asked the army to be on standby in Islamabad on Monday, where authorities have blocked the main boulevard leading to Parliament with metal shipping containers. ‘March 16 not final day' But the PML-N spokesman said “March 16th is not the last and final day of the long march.” “The march would extend to the 17th, 18th or the rest of March and even into April. We will not stop until the Zardari government fulfills its promises made to us.” Meanwhile, as Zardari struggled to avoid a street confrontation in Islamabad, his key adviser, Information Minister Sherry Rehman, abandoned him Saturday, reportedly after the President House directly issued a media ban order against Geo TV channel, Friday night, bypassing her. Rahman, a close associate of Zardari's slain wife Bhutto, resigned Friday night during a high-level meeting chaired by Zardari and also attended by Gilani and Interior Ministry chief Rehman Malik, reports said. Rehman had said earlier that she would quit if a crackdown was launched against the media covering the opposition march. A PPP spokesman said the allegation that Zardari had ordered the media restrictions was “absolutely incorrect.” Rehman did not explain her decision and the channel was on air again Saturday in major cities. Sources said she told Gilani that Punjab Governor Salman Taseer's “insulting behavior” toward her was also a reason for her resignation. Her departure opened a crack in the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) that Zardari had inherited from his wife. Analysts note that Sherry Rehman's statement to Geo TV that “PPP is sorry for the Sharif brother's fate” suggests that, for her, the party is bigger than the president. Police on Saturday detained scores of activists across the country, including five people at a gathering of lawyers and Sharif supporters in Multan. “So far our attitude is soft, but we can change our strategy,” Ali Ahmad Kurd, the leader of the country's lawyers movement, said in Quetta after authorities allegedly prevented him from boarding a plane to the eastern city of Lahore. “When one path is blocked, God opens 100 others, and we will reach Lahore and then Islamabad,” said Kurd, whose road convoy was turned back by police on Friday.
