Pakistan's PPP and PML-N to form coalition government, neither Nawaz Sharif nor Asif Zardari to be prime minister

Pakistan's PPP and PML-N to form coalition gov'ts

www.chinaview.cn 2008-02-22 01:33:50

ISLAMABAD, Feb. 21 (Xinhua) -- Pakistan's political parties Pakistan People's Party (PPP) and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) will form coalition governments in central and provincial levels, leaders of the two parties said here Thursday night.

PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari and PML-N leader Nawaz Sharif made the statement at a joint press conference after almost an hour of closed-door meeting here Thursday night. "I have requested Nawaz Sharif to be a part of that government," Zardari told the media.

"We are looking for a broader national consensus government," Zardari said.

"We intend to be together in our struggle for democracy," Zardari said, adding that "We intend to remain together in the parliament."

Regarding the stance towards President Perez Musharraf, Sharif said that "the sooner the president respects the will of the people the better."

Analysts say the coalition of PPP and PML-N will bring great challenge to Musharraf, who in 1999 seized power in a coup.

"We have agreed to restore the 1973 Constitution in its original form," Sharif said.

Zardari also said the PPP's first resolution in the National Assembly will be a request for the United Nations probe into the assassination of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto.

Bhutto was killed in gunshots and suicide bombing attacks at the gate of the Liaqat Bagh park in Rawalpindi where she addressed an election rally on Dec. 27 last year.

Sharif and Zardari also agreed to reinstate the judges Musharraf sacked last year.

"In principle, there is no disagreement on restoration of deposed judges," Sharif said.

Sharif said earlier Thursday that the deposed former chief justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Mohammed Chaudhry would be reinstated within days.

The lawyers took out to the street in Islamabad and tried to march to the residence of Chaudhry. They chanted slogans against President Perez Musharraf and demanded restoration of Chaudhry.

Chaudhry was sacked on Nov. 3 last year when Musharraf declared a state of emergency in the country. He remained under house arrest ever since.

PPP's Co-Chairman Zardari not to become PM of Pakistan

www.chinaview.cn 2008-02-21 01:15:57

·Zardari Wednesday said he would not become prime minister of Pakistan. ·The PPP would want to form a coalition government with the Mutahida Qaumi Movement. ·The PPP has ruled out the possibility of cooperation with Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid.

ISLAMABAD, Feb. 20 (Xinhua) -- Co-Chairman of Pakistan People's Party (PPP) Asif Ali Zardari Wednesday said he would not become prime minister of Pakistan, local TV channel DAWN NEWS reported.

Addressing a news conference here, Zardari said that the PPP held a central executive committee meeting on Wednesday and the meeting decided he would not be the prime ministerial candidate.

Zardari also demanded the release of judges and lawyers who were deposed after President Pervez Musharraf imposed a state of emergency on Nov. 3 last year.

Zardari disclosed that the PPP would want to form a coalition government with the Mutahida Qaumi Movement.

The general elections of Pakistan were held on Feb. 18. Initial results showed that PPP had won the largest number of National Assembly seats, which made it entitled to form the next government.

The PPP has ruled out the possibility of cooperation with the former ruling party Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid, saying they are in contact with other parties mainly Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, on the formation of government.

Zardari said the media played an important role in the country and should be given more freedom.

Zardari and Bhutto's 19-year-old son Bilawal was named the Chairman of PPP following the assassination of the former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto in Rawalpindi on December 27. Bilawal is currently studying at Oxford while his father, as PPP Co-Chairman, is looking after the party affairs till he completes his education.

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