Nawaz quits coalition government

CNews ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Muslim League-N Chief, Nawaz Sharif Monday formally announced to quit the Federal Cabinet and that ministers of his party will tender resignations to the Prime Minister tomorrow.Addressing a press conference here after the meeting of the PML-N’s Central Working Committee, he said: “PPP failed to keep its promise and that is why we have decided to part ways with the coalition government.”PML-N will not sit on the opposition benches for the time being and extend support to the government on the basis of issues, he announced.You know very well by now that no breakthrough could be achieved on the issue of restoration of deposed judges after holding marathon negotiations with the Pakistan People’s Party, Nawaz Sharif said.PPP and PML-N committed in the Murree Declaration to reinstate the deposed judges to November 2, 2007 position by passing a resolution in the Parliament within 30 days of coming into power.“We left no stone unturned to keep our promise made in the Murree Declaration,” he said, adding, “I had to go to Dubai and then London to hold negotiations with the PPP on the issue but to no avail.”Our ministers will tender resignations tomorrow, Nawaz Sharif said.He said: “Our standpoint is that the steps taken on November 3 were unconstitutional and illegal. 60 judges were sacked in a single move by General Pervez Musharraf, replacing them with his own under Provisional Constitutional Order.” We don’t accept these PCO judges, he added.PML-N Chief was of the view that without independent judiciary the problems of the country cannot be resolved.He vowed to continue the struggle for restoration of judiciary along with the lawyers community, civil society and people.“We wanted the coalition government to remain intact but were left with no other choice than to walk out because of the deposed judges not being restored,” Nawaz Sharif argued.He said: “Although no longer part of the government, we will never be part of any conspiracy against it.”He said PML-N neither accepts pressure from US nor from any other outside country. Our decisions always reflect the aspirations of the people of Pakistan, he added.President PML-N, Shahbaz Sharif, Javed Hashmi and Raja Zafrul Haq were also present on the occasion.