The Hindu : Front Page : PML(N) pulls out of coalition

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Tuesday, Aug 26, 2008
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PML(N) pulls out of coalition

Nirupama Subramanian

Nawaz Sharif

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Muslim League (N) on Monday finally parted ways with the ruling coalition, blaming the break-up on Pakistan People’s Party leader Asif Ali Zardari’s failure to restore the judges dismissed by the former President, Pervez Musharraf.

The development does not pose a threat to the survival of the PPP-led government as it continues to hold a majority in the National Assembly, the elected lower House of Parliament, with the help of other allies.

The focus is now on the PML(Q) whose members defected from the PML(N) in 2002 to front the Musharraf regime. A patch-up between the two carries the potential to make the PML(N) the largest party in the National Assembly.

Mr. Zardari told the state-run Pakistan Television that his party would not disturb the PML(N)-led Punjab provincial government and hoped that Mr. Sharif’s party would do nothing to detabilise the PPP-led set up at the Centre.

Presidential poll

All eyes are also on the September 6 presidential election, in which the battle lines are drawn between the PPP and the PML(N).

The PML(N) has decided to field Saeed-uz-zaman Siddiqui, a respected former Chief Justice, against Mr. Zardari, whose candidature the PPP formally announced last week.

PML(N) leader Nawaz Sharif announced the decision to pull out from the coalition at a press conference here after a lengthy meeting of the party’s central executive committee.

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