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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| Pakistan's government in turmoil | |
| (about 6 hours later) | |
| Ministers belonging to one of the main parties in Pakistan have handed in their resignations, just three months after landmark general elections. | |
| Ex-PM Nawaz Sharif decided to pull his PML-N out of the government because of differences over the reinstatement of judges sacked by President Musharraf. | |
| Mr Sharif wants the judges, who became a focus of opposition to Mr Musharraf, to get all their old powers back. | Mr Sharif wants the judges, who became a focus of opposition to Mr Musharraf, to get all their old powers back. |
| But the biggest party, the PPP, wants limitations on their powers. | But the biggest party, the PPP, wants limitations on their powers. |
| State television said nine ministers from the PML-N tendered their resignations to Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani at his office in Islamabad. | |
| Mr Gilani declined to accept the resignations, saying he would wait until Pakistan People's Party (PPP) leader Asif Zardari returned to the country, an aide said. | |
| Mr Zardari is due back from Britain late on Tuesday, reports said. | |
| Issue-by-issue | Issue-by-issue |
| Mr Sharif has said that despite quitting the government, his party would support the Pakistan People's Party (PPP)-led government from the treasury benches on an issue-by-issue basis. | Mr Sharif has said that despite quitting the government, his party would support the Pakistan People's Party (PPP)-led government from the treasury benches on an issue-by-issue basis. |
| "We will not become part of any conspiracy to destabilise the democratic process," he said on Monday. | |
| Both sides were eager to avoid the appearance of a major rift, but analysts called the pull-out a huge set-back that could lead to growing instability. | Both sides were eager to avoid the appearance of a major rift, but analysts called the pull-out a huge set-back that could lead to growing instability. |
| The BBC's Barbara Plett in Islamabad says further cracks in the alliance may give a lease of life to pro-Musharraf parties which were defeated in recent elections. | The BBC's Barbara Plett in Islamabad says further cracks in the alliance may give a lease of life to pro-Musharraf parties which were defeated in recent elections. |
| HAVE YOUR SAYThe judges' issue should be put on back burner and other issues like state of economy and energy crisis should be addressed.Zafar, LahoreSend us your comments | HAVE YOUR SAYThe judges' issue should be put on back burner and other issues like state of economy and energy crisis should be addressed.Zafar, LahoreSend us your comments |
| Mr Sharif also announced on Monday that he would run in a by-election next month in the city of Rawalpindi. | |
| He said his ministers were quitting because the coalition had twice failed to meet deadlines to restore the judges sacked by President Musharraf. | |
| Reinstating the judges was one of Mr Sharif's key election promises and his condition for joining the coalition. | Reinstating the judges was one of Mr Sharif's key election promises and his condition for joining the coalition. |
| A statement from the PPP called the PML-N move "a pause in the process and not a break in the purpose of restoration of judges". | A statement from the PPP called the PML-N move "a pause in the process and not a break in the purpose of restoration of judges". |
| It said ministries vacated by the PML-N would not be filled and hoped the issue could be resolved "amicably and in a spirit of accommodation and mutual trust". | It said ministries vacated by the PML-N would not be filled and hoped the issue could be resolved "amicably and in a spirit of accommodation and mutual trust". |
| The party also said it had no plans to field a candidate against Mr Sharif in the Rawalpindi by-election. | The party also said it had no plans to field a candidate against Mr Sharif in the Rawalpindi by-election. |
| Differences | Differences |
| The alliance had set Monday as the latest deadline to reinstate the judges, but Mr Sharif and Mr Zardari wrapped up talks in London without reaching a deal. | |
| SACKED JUDGES March 2007: President Musharraf suspends Supreme Court chief justice, triggering protests6 Oct 2007: President Musharraf wins election3 Nov 2007: President declares state of emergency and sacks around 60 judges22 Nov 2007: New Supreme Court upholds Musharraf election win18 Feb 2008: New coalition government of PPP and PML-N emerge victorious in parliamentary polls30 April 2008: Deadline set by two parties to reinstate sacked judges12 May 2008: Second deadline to restore judges Q&A: Pakistan's judges Commonwealth readmits Pakistan | SACKED JUDGES March 2007: President Musharraf suspends Supreme Court chief justice, triggering protests6 Oct 2007: President Musharraf wins election3 Nov 2007: President declares state of emergency and sacks around 60 judges22 Nov 2007: New Supreme Court upholds Musharraf election win18 Feb 2008: New coalition government of PPP and PML-N emerge victorious in parliamentary polls30 April 2008: Deadline set by two parties to reinstate sacked judges12 May 2008: Second deadline to restore judges Q&A: Pakistan's judges Commonwealth readmits Pakistan |
| The new government had initially promised to restore the senior judges by the end of April. | The new government had initially promised to restore the senior judges by the end of April. |
| Ten days ago, following earlier talks, Mr Sharif announced that all the senior judges sacked by President Musharraf last year would be reinstated on 12 May. | Ten days ago, following earlier talks, Mr Sharif announced that all the senior judges sacked by President Musharraf last year would be reinstated on 12 May. |
| Mr Sharif's party has campaigned for the unconditional reinstatement of the judges. | Mr Sharif's party has campaigned for the unconditional reinstatement of the judges. |
| Mr Zardari wants the reinstatement of the judges to be part of a larger package of constitutional amendments which would include reducing their powers. | Mr Zardari wants the reinstatement of the judges to be part of a larger package of constitutional amendments which would include reducing their powers. |
| President Musharraf sacked about 60 judges - some sitting in the Supreme Court - in November 2007, after declaring a state of emergency. | President Musharraf sacked about 60 judges - some sitting in the Supreme Court - in November 2007, after declaring a state of emergency. |
| The Supreme Court had been due to rule on whether his re-election was legal. | The Supreme Court had been due to rule on whether his re-election was legal. |
| They had also been due to rule on a controversial amnesty covering Mr Zardari and his wife Benazir Bhutto, who was later assassinated. | They had also been due to rule on a controversial amnesty covering Mr Zardari and his wife Benazir Bhutto, who was later assassinated. |