By Xinhua,
Islamabad : Former Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif Saturday urged its coalition partner to restore some 60 deposed judges.
Sharif urged the ruling Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) to restore the judges who were sacked on Nov. 3 last year when former President Pervez Musharraf declared a state of emergency.
The PPP sent a four-member delegation to meet Sharif, also chief of junior Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) in the ruling coalition at his Raiwind Residence in Punjab province.
The delegation sought Sharif’s support for Asif Ali Zardari, Bhutto’s widower who has been proposed by PPP as the candidate for the post of President.
Musharraf Monday announced his decision to resign as Pakistani President and the presidential election will be held on Sept. 6.
Addressing a news conference, Sharif said that he would consul this party and then make a decision on whether to support Zardari or not.
Sharif clarified that PML-N would support Zardari if the judges were restored.
The judges must be restored next Monday, Sharif said, adding that the schedule for presidential election was premature.
The PPP and PML-N emerged as two largest parties in National Assembly in general elections held in February. The two parties agreed in March that they would form a coalition government and the deposed judges should be restored within 30 days since the formation of the government.
However, they failed to reach a consensus on the judges restoration issue despite several rounds of talks. The PML-N pulled its ministers out of the cabinet in May.