Reversing its earlier stand in an apparent bid to provide stability, Nawaz Sharif’s PML(N) on Sunday decided to join the PPP-led coalition government and the two parties agreed to reinstate all the judges sacked by Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf within a month of assuming power.
The long-time foes clinched a power-sharing deal etching the contours of the new government at a one-to-one meeting between PPP Chairman Asif Ali Zardari and Sharif at the former prime minister’s weekend retreat in the hill resort of Murree, 60 km from here under tight security.
A joint declaration signed by Sharif and Zardari, however, made no mention of possible impeachment of Musharraf, an idea championed by PML(N) but disfavoured by PPP which has said that it does not want to “rock the boat”. “In her (Bhutto’s) memory we signed this... and Insha Allah (God willing) we intend to stick to the road to democracy,” Zardari said after the meeting.
PML(N), which had earlier said that it will support the government from outside, agreed to be part of the federal cabinet and to support the PPP's nominee for the post of prime minister.
PPP emerged as the largest party in the March 18 poll, winning 120 of 342 seats while PML(N) had bagged 90.
The PPP said it would join the PML(N)-led government in the politically crucial Punjab as the two parties asked Musharraf to immediately convene the National Assembly.
The two parties said they would forge a common minimum agenda that will provide good governance and end dictatorship in the country. The joint declaration said they would form a government to translate into action the mandate given by the people in last month’s general election.
Candidate
The PPP has yet to announce its candidate for the top executive position. There are speculations that it will name either Makhdoom Amin Fahim or Ahmed Mukhtar as prime minister. However, many say that Zardari himself is a candidate for the top position and whoever is named prime minister will be in the position for just three months until he (Zardari) is elected to the National Assembly.
According to the constitution, only an elected member of the lower house of parliament or the National Assembly can be the prime minister. Zardari is likely to contest the by-polls to be held next month.
Both Zardari and Sharif said the sessions of the National and the provincial assemblies should be convened immediately.
Musharraf on Saturday said that the session of parliament will be summoned in two weeks.
“Results have been announced, we (PPP and PML-N) have decided to form a coalition government with other parties, now there should be no excuse for delay in calling parliament in session,” Sharif told journalists.
Sharif, who was deposed by Musharraf in a coup in 1999, once again reiterated his demand for the military ruler to quit following the defeat of the President’s supporters in the February 18 general election. “If Musharraf and his supporters say this is a hung parliament, they should not have any misperceptions that it will tolerate dictatorship,” Sharif said.
The joint declaration said: "The leadership was of the firm opinion that the coalition partners are ready to form the governments and the national and provincial assemblies should be convened immediately."
