PML-N decides to sever ties with coalition

CNews ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) Monday decided to break up with the coalition government and nominate its separate candidate for presidential election against Pakistan People’s Party (PPP)’s candidate Asif Ali Zardari.Addressing a press conference here flanked by Justice (rtd) Saeeduz Zaman Siddiqui and Shahbaz Sharif and other party leaders, he said in view of frequent defaults and violations on the part of PPP, PML-N has decided to sit on the opposition benches in National Assembly and field Justice (rtd) Saeeduz Zaman Siddiqui as the party’s candidate for presidency.Nawaz also mentioned Charter of Democracy which was inked during his exile, adding coalition government negotiations were held in Murree and an agreement was entered that in just thirty days, the deposed judges would be restored through a resolution.However, Zardari termed all these pacts a political statements no hadith or Quran, he added.He continued, being disappointed on this attitude, PML-N left ministries and kept backing the coalition government, adding he, later on, wrote a letter to Zardari and sincerely requested him to restore the judges.However, a fresh series of dialogues were held on August 5 to 7 and an agreement was reached, according to which, soon after the resignation of Pervez Musharraf, the deposed judges would be restored, but the agreement was not honored and it was said by Zardari that these agreements are not Quran.Lauding Saeeduz Zaman Siddiqui and announcing his candidature for presidency, Nawaz said he is the person who did not bow down to the severe dictatorship of Pervez Musharraf, adding he is the pride of Pakistan and every patriot Pakistani should support him in bid for presidential election.Talking on the occasion, Justice Saeed said PML-N is the only party in the country which adopted an unambiguous line of action on the judges and never budged back from its principled stance on the restoration of the judges issue.He also thanked PML-N and Nawaz Sharif for his nomination as the presidential candidate. Justice (rtd) Saeed said the government should excercise restraint and the events like those of 1971 should not repeated.Responding a question, Nawaz said his party will tread on the path of very positive and constructive opposition with no intention of creating trouble for PPP aimed at toppling the government and the party will comply its well-cherished goals.Nawaz also expressed his dissatisfaction and disappointment on PPP’s attitude in an earlier press conference at his Raiwind residence, saying PML-N will stay in coalition only on one condition that the deposed judges are restoration.Earlier, a crunch meeting of Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) parliamentary party and Central Executive Committee (CEC) was held here at Punjab House today.A majority of the party members called on Nawaz Sharif to part ways with the coalition government and nominate its separate candidate for presidential election.The meeting was attended by several PML-N leaders including Shahbaz Sharif, Ahsan Iqbal, Ishaq Dar, Khawja Asif, Zafar Iqbal Jhagra, Raja Zafarul Haq and Makhdoom Javed Hashmi.The sources also disclosed that some party members in the meeting suggested giving time to PPP and set a deadline just before the election date.