Former Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif agreed Sunday to join forces with the rival Pakistan People's Party (PPP) in a coalition government. The two parties are yet to name a nominee for prime minister, but say that will come once the Parliament is convened in about two weeks.
Sharif and Asif Ali Zardari, Bhutto's widower and successor as head of the PPP announced the coalition in a joint statement
The PPP of assassinated former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto did not have enough seats to govern alone and struck a deal with its archrival, former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, whose Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N), came second in the election.
The deal involving the PPP, which won the most seats in the legislature in last month's election, includes the reinstatement of judges who had been fired by President Pervez Musharraf during last year's pre-election state of emergency.
Sharif is the man who was deposed by Musharraf in a military coup in 1999, sentenced to death and later exiled. Pakistani law prevented him from running for office, but as head of the party he wields tremendous influence.
Sharif's election campaign was directed against Musharraf and on Sunday he urged the president to accept the people's verdict "against dictatorship" and resign. Zardari appeared more conciliatory, saying he did not believe in "personal agendas".
Musharraf has advised a new government to focus on fighting terrorism and sustaining economic growth rather than politics.
The coalition is ominous sign for Musharraf who purged the Supreme Court ahead of a critical constitutional ruling on whether his election for a second five-year term as president while he was army chief was legitimate. This means the judges could reopen the case and possibly declare the election void, denying Musharraf any future role in government.
The dismissed judges, including Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry, were seen as hostile to Musharraf's re-election. Chaudhry remains under house arrest.
Zardari and Sharif agreed the reappointment of the dismissed judges would occur through a parliamentary resolution within 30 days of the formation of the government.
The deal involving the PPP, which won the most seats in the legislature in last month's election, includes the reinstatement of judges who had been fired by President Pervez Musharraf during last year's pre-election state of emergency.
Sharif is the man who was deposed by Musharraf in a military coup in 1999, sentenced to death and later exiled. Pakistani law prevented him from running for office, but as head of the party he wields tremendous influence.
Sharif's election campaign was directed against Musharraf and on Sunday he urged the president to accept the people's verdict "against dictatorship" and resign. Zardari appeared more conciliatory, saying he did not believe in "personal agendas".
Musharraf has advised a new government to focus on fighting terrorism and sustaining economic growth rather than politics.
The coalition is ominous sign for Musharraf who purged the Supreme Court ahead of a critical constitutional ruling on whether his election for a second five-year term as president while he was army chief was legitimate. This means the judges could reopen the case and possibly declare the election void, denying Musharraf any future role in government.
The dismissed judges, including Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry, were seen as hostile to Musharraf's re-election. Chaudhry remains under house arrest.
Zardari and Sharif agreed the reappointment of the dismissed judges would occur through a parliamentary resolution within 30 days of the formation of the government.
Western allies and Pakistan's neighbours, concerned about instability in a nuclear-armed state already reeling from suicide bombings by al Qaeda-inspired militants, fear more political upheaval in the country in case of confrontation between the president and new government.
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