Islamabad, Apr 29 : The two major coalition partners in the Pakistan government – the PPP and the PML-N - failed to break the impasse yesterday over the restoration of judges during their talks at the residence of PPP co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari’s residence in Dubai.

The talks between the two parties will continue today in Dubai, said sources privy to both the sides.

The two sides had a marathon session spread over several hours before they left the talks inconclusive before the dinner. Later, both the sides had dinner together, but there was no official word about the meeting.

The deadlock was reportedly on linkage of the resolution for judges’ restoration with the constitutional package for the judiciary, and the PPP was not ready to take the two separately. On the other hand, the PML-N also refused to get the two - resolution and constitutional package - linked and made it clear to the PPP that the resolution and the constitutional package were two separate things and both must be treated separately.

Further, there was a deadlock on the constitutional package too, as the PML-N was opposed to slashing down the tenure of the judges and simply wanted the restoration of the superior courts judges to pre-November 3 position. But, the PPP wanted to get the resolution linked with the constitutional package and insisted that the two should be tabled simultaneously in the Lower House of Parliament.

According to The Nation, there was also difference between the two parties over the cutoff date for tabling of the matter before the National Assembly, as the PML-N was of the view that the 30 days countdown started with the formation of the Federal Government, while the PPP took it as the completion of the provincial governments which was completed by the installation of the Punjab Cabinet last week. PPP leadership argued that the Federal Government was completed after the installation of governments in all the four federating units.

The proposals formulated by the seven-member committee by the two sides to hammer out differences on the issue, were discussed between PPP Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari and PML(N) President Mian Shahbaz Sharif. But, having failed to break the ice, the two sides left the negotiating table empty handed, said sources privy to the talks.

They added that though the Dubai meeting failed to make any headway, still the two sides were away from the breakup position and the parties could enter into second round on today.

PPP Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari was assisted in the meeting by Federal Minister for Law and Justice Farooq H. Naik, who is also the chairman of the committee heading the seven-member committee tasked to work out solution on the judges issue by both the sides, and Rehman Malik, while PML(N) President Mian Shahbaz Sharif was assisted in the talks by Senior Federal Minister for Communications Ch. Nisar Ali Khan and Federal Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources Kh. Asif, reported The Nation.

Meanwhile, leaders from the two parties in Islamabad, said that restoration of the judges before the April 30 deadline was now impossible, however, the two sides could give some definite date for tabling of the resolution for restoration of judges before the National Assembly by that date. (ANI)