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Dubai/Islamabad: The ruling alliance of the two most powerful parties in Pakistan collapsed on Monday after just six months in power.
The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) decided to quit, blaming the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leadership for breaking a promise to restore deposed judges.
No consultation
"It was just a formal announcement today, the decision to quit the coalition was in fact taken on Saturday when PPP Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari decided to run in the presidential election without consulting the coalition partners," a close aide in the PML-N told Gulf News from Lahore.
"We have decided to sit in the opposition benches in parliament because PPP leader Zardari had reneged on a series of solemn commitments including a written agreement signed by both [parties] on August 7 that deposed judges would be restored within 24 hours of impeachment or resignation of Pervez Musharraf from the presidency," PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif told a crowded press conference in Islamabad.
"We showed extreme patience and were forced into withdrawing from the coalition because of the broken promises of the PPP leadership," Sharif said.
He, however, added that his party would play a "constructive role" and will not get into any confrontation to destabilise the government.
"We will not revert to politics of the 1990s," he said, recalling the era of bitter acrimony and tussles that then prevailed between him and slain former prime minister Benazir Bhutto.
Still supporting
Despite Sharif's quitting the coalition, there is no immediate threat to the PPP-led government, because other major coalition partners including Awami National Party, Jumiat Ulema Islam and Muthida Qoumi Movement and independents are still supporting the PPP.
Sharif announced the decision at a crowded news conference after a joint meeting of the central executive committee and legislators of PML-N chaired by him at the Punjab House in the capital.
He also announced that the PML-N has chosen former Supreme Court chief justice Saeed uz Zaman Siddiqui as its presidential candidate, who will face PPP co-chairman Zardari, who was already nominated by the PPP, to run in the September 6 presidential election.
The PML-N leader described Siddiqui, who was present with him, as the most suitable person for the presidency because he said the former top judge was "above party lines" and would defend the constitution and rule of law.
Siddiqui, in remarks on the occasion, praised the "principled politics" of the PML-N and said it was the only party that had taken a clear stand on reinstatement of the judges deposed by Musharraf last year.
The PML-N leader however vowed that while sitting on the opposition benches his party's legislators would not in any way try to destabilise the PPP government.
He pledged his party would play a "constructive role" without involving in any confrontation and continue its efforts for the restoration of the independent judiciary.
"We will not revert to politics of 1990s," he said, recalling the era of bitter acrimony and tussles that prevailed then between him and slain former prime minister Benazir Bhutto.
Sharif, who was flanked by top party leaders including younger brother and Punjab chief minister Shahbaz, narrated in detail how the PPP leadership wriggled out of pledges.
Fragile system
The coalition between the two big parties was widely considered vital for political stability and continuation of the fragile democratic system in the country that has witnessed long spells of military rule in its 61-year history.
In the new situation, the role of former ruling pro-Musharraf PML-Q has assumed particular importance in the expected political wheeling and dealing in the wake of the rupture between PML-N and PPP.
Both major parties are likely to woo PML-Q, which has 51 legislators in the 342-member National Assembly, more members than other parties in the Senate and 83 lawmakers in the assembly of Punjab, ruled by PML-N in tandem with PPP.
It is to be seen whether the PPP, which has 107 members in the 369-member Punjab assembly, would continue its support to PML-N in the most populous province or react otherwise.
The two major parties are believed to have initiated contacts with PML-Q, as a new alliance is expected to be forged by PPP to maintain its grip on power at the centre stage of Pakistan politics.
Political equations: What's next
Both Pakistan Peoples Party and the Pakistan Muslim League-N will now flex their muscles in parliament as PML-N has also nominated Justice (retd) Saeedduzzman Siddiqui as its presidential candidate against Asif Ali Zardari. Presidential polls are scheduled to be held on September 6.
There will be efforts to form new alliances and the pro-Musharraf Pakistan Muslim League (Quaid) is expected to play a major role once again.
There will be a tussle between PPP and PML-N to gain power in Punjab, which is currently ruled by PML-N, leading to more friction.
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