PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari £¨L) and
PML-N leader Nawaz Sharif attend press conference in Islamabad, capital of
Pakistan, Feb. 21, 2008. Pakistan's political parties Pakistan People's
Party (PPP) and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) will form coalition
governments in central and provincial levels, leaders of the two parties
said here Thursday night.(Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>
ISLAMABAD, Feb. 21 (Xinhua) -- Pakistan's political
parties Pakistan People's Party (PPP) and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N)
will form coalition governments in central and provincial levels, leaders of the
two parties said here Thursday night.
PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari
and PML-N leader Nawaz Sharif made the statement at a joint press conference
after almost an hour of closed-door meeting here Thursday night.
"I
have requested Nawaz Sharif to be a part of that government," Zardari told the
media.
"We are looking for a broader national consensus
government," Zardari said.
"We intend to be together in our struggle for
democracy," Zardari said, adding that "We intend to remain together in the
parliament."
Regarding the stance towards President Perez
Musharraf, Sharif said that "the sooner the president respects the will of the
people the better."
Analysts say the coalition of PPP and PML-N will
bring great challenge to Musharraf, who in 1999 seized power in a coup.
"We have agreed to restore the 1973 Constitution in
its original form," Sharif said.
Zardari also said the PPP's first resolution in the
National Assembly will be a request for the United Nations probe into the
assassination of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto.
Bhutto was killed in gunshots
and suicide bombing attacks at the gate of the Liaqat Bagh park in Rawalpindi
where she addressed an election rally on Dec. 27 last year.
Sharif and Zardari also agreed to reinstate the
judges Musharraf sacked last year.
"In principle, there is no disagreement on
restoration of deposed judges," Sharif said.
Sharif said earlier Thursday that the deposed former
chief justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Mohammed Chaudhry would be reinstated within
days.
The lawyers took out to the street in Islamabad and
tried to march to the residence of Chaudhry. They chanted slogans against
President Perez Musharraf and demanded restoration of Chaudhry.
Chaudhry was sacked on Nov. 3
last year when Musharraf declared a state of emergency in the country. He
remained under house arrest ever since.
ISLAMABAD, Feb. 20 (Xinhua) --
Co-Chairman of Pakistan People's Party (PPP) Asif Ali Zardari Wednesday said he
would not become prime minister of Pakistan, local TV channel DAWN NEWS
reported.
Addressing a news conference here, Zardari said that
the PPP held a central executive committee meeting on Wednesday and the meeting
decided he would not be the prime ministerial candidate. Full story
BEIJING, Feb. 20 (Xinhua) -- China is
glad with the smooth conclusion of Pakistan's general elections, said Chinese
Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao on Wednesday.
Liu made the remarks when responding to a
journalist's question. Full story
ISLAMABAD, Feb. 21 (Xinhua) -- U.S.
President George W. Bush spoke to Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf on the
phone on Thursday, congratulating him on holding of free general elections,
local TV channel DAWN NEWS reported.
The phone conversation lasted about 15 minutes and
Bush extended his congratulations to Musharraf on the holding of free and free
polls, said the report. Full story
Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf
talks to the U.S. Senators John Kerry (2nd L), Joseph Biden and Chuck
Hagel (L) in Islamabad Feb. 19, 2008. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo
Gallery>>>
ISLAMABAD, Feb. 19 (Xinhua) -- Pakistani President Pervez
Musharraf Tuesday said he hoped the new post-election scenario would move in a
positive direction and the new government would work in a harmonious manner with
all the stakeholders.
Talking to a delegation of U.S. Senators Joseph Biden,
John Kerry and Chuck Hagel, here at the President's House, Musharraf said that
his unswerving commitment to democracy was once again vindicated by holding of
free, fair, transparent and peaceful elections in the country. Full story
