Pakistan coalition partner quits govt over judges issue

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Islamabad, May 12: The two-month-old ruling coalition in Pakistan on Monday faced first major threat of survival with Nawaz Sharif-led PML-N deciding to pull out its ministers from the cabinet following deadlock over the contentious issue of reinstating sacked judges.

The PML-N ministers will submit their resignations to Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani on Tuesday, Sharif told a press conference at the end of a marathon meeting of top party leaders here.

‘‘Today is May 12. We were bound by this date,’’ Sharif told mediapersons referring to a Monday deadline he set with his main coalition partner, the party of assassinated former prime minister Benazir Bhutto, for judges sacked by President Pervez Musharraf to be reinstated.

PML-N will remain in the Pakistan People’s Party-led coalition and extend issue-based support to the government, he said. PML-N has nine ministers in the 24-member cabinet.

Sharif made it clear that his party would not take any decision that would strengthen what he called a ‘‘dictatorship’’ under Musharraf.

‘‘We will not be part of any conspiracy aimed at strengthening dictatorships,’’ he said.

‘‘We want the unconditional, dignified and honourable return of the judges,’’ he said adding that his party would not destabilise the government.

‘‘We will not sit on opposition benches for the time being,’’ Sharif said. The decision was taken at a meeting of the parliamentary party and the central working committee of the party.

Sharif expressed disappointment over his failed talks with Zardari. The PML-N chief said he had made sincere efforts but the ‘‘deadlock’’ could not be broken.