The Hindu : Front Page : Zardari, Sharif join hands

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Feb 22, 2008
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

Front Page

Front Page

Zardari, Sharif join hands

Nirupama Subramanian

PPP, PML(N) to work for formation of Central, provincial governments

— PHOTOS: AFP

COALITION BID: Pakistan People’s Party leader Asif Ali Zardari (left) with Awami National Party chief Asfandyar Wali Khan at a press conference in Islamabad on Thursday. Earlier, they held discussions on government formation at the Centre and in the North West Frontier Province, where the ANP emerged as the single largest party. At right, Pakistan Muslim League (N) leader Nawaz Sharif at a party meet in Islamabad.

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan People’s Party leader Asif Ali Zardari and the leader of the Pakistan Muslim League (N) Nawaz Sharif said on Thursday that they had agreed to work together for the formation of governments at the Centre and in provinces.

The announcement came at a joint press conference late in the night following talks between them.

Their parties emerged victorious in the February 18 election — the PPP won 88 seats and the PML(N) got 66 in the 272-member National Assembly.

It is not clear yet if the PML(N) will participate in the government or support it from outside.

Mr. Sharif read out from a two-line statement that there was “no disagreement” between the two parties on restoration of the judiciary that was ousted during the November 3, 2007, emergency, and that they agreed that the modalities of this would be left to the next Parliament.

He said the PML (N) respected the verdict the people had given to the PPP.

“We have told Mr. Asif Zardari that not only we will be supporting the government, but we will also ensure that it completes the full five-year tenure of its mandate,” Mr. Sharif said.

He reiterated that the verdict was against President Pervez Musharraf, and said the “sooner he accepts it, the better it is for him.”

Mr. Zardari said his party was looking to make a government of national consensus. Asked if his party wanted to work with the retired General Musharraf or without him, he said that was for Parliament to decide.

Asked if there was any deadline for formation of a government, Mr. Zardari said that there was a lot of ground to cover between the two parties.

“Governance is a serious business, and everything cannot be decided at a two-hour meeting. We will be meeting again off and on. In principle we have agreed to stay together,” he said.

“We have agreed on respecting each other’s mandate, we are also agreed on the judiciary issue. We also very strongly feel that we have to complete the term of the mandate that the people of Pakistan have given us.”

Sharif backs lawyers

Hours before the talks, Mr. Sharif showed up at a protest by lawyers and civil rights activists on the barricaded road leading to the residence of the ousted Chief Justice Iftihkar Chaudhary, and pledged that his reinstatement was now “only a matter of days.”

The former Chief Justice has been under an undeclared house arrest since November 3, and the agitation for his release has continued unabated.

The legal community and its supporters in Pakistan’s civil society flagged the issue with a charged up protest rally that went from the house of Aitzaz Ahsan, jailed lawyer of Mr. Chaudhary, up to the deposed Chief Justice’s barricaded home.

Earlier in the day, Mr. Zardari held talks in the capital with Awami National Party leader Asfandyar Wali Khan on issues of government formation at the Centre and in the NWFP.

Their meeting came amid speculation that the PPP may stake a claim to form the provincial government with the help of independents even though the ANP has emerged as the single largest party in the NWFP. The party has won 10 seats in the National Assembly.

Speaking to journalists after the meeting, the two leaders said they had agreed on a four point agenda that includes restoration of the 1973 Constitution, supremacy of Parliament, provincial autonomy and independence of the judiciary.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Front Page