Former Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif says his PML-N party is pulling out of the country's multi-party governing coalition.
Former Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif says his PML-N party is pulling out of the country's multi-party governing coalition.
He has been in dispute with the country's biggest party, the PPP, over who should be the next president.
He has been in dispute with the country's biggest party, the PPP, over who should be the next president.
The two sides also disagree on the reinstatement of judges sacked by former President Pervez Musharraf.
The two sides also disagree on the reinstatement of judges sacked by former President Pervez Musharraf.
The move throws Pakistan into further turmoil in a time of economic gloom and growing threats from militants.
The move throws Pakistan into further turmoil at a time of economic gloom and growing threats from militants.
'Constructive role'
Mr Sharif told journalists in Islamabad that the PPP had broken promises, in particular over the issue of the judges. "We cannot find a ray of hope," he said.
Mr Sharif told journalists in Islamabad that the PPP had broken promises, in particular over the issue of the judges. "We cannot find a ray of hope," he said.
However, he said his party wanted to play a constructive role in opposition. The BBC's Barbara Plett in Islamabad says this indicates that he will not try to bring down the government for now.
However, he said his party wanted to play a constructive role in opposition. The BBC's Barbara Plett in Islamabad says this indicates that he will not try to bring down the government for now.
PPP leader Asif Zardari, whose wife Benazir Bhutto was assassinated in December, has announced that he will stand for the presidential election on 6 September.
PPP leader Asif Zardari, whose wife Benazir Bhutto was assassinated in December, has announced that he will stand for the presidential election on 6 September.
Mr Sharif now says his party will put up a candidate against him.
Mr Sharif now says his party will put up a candidate against him.
The PPP fears that if all the judges sacked by Mr Musharraf get their jobs back, they may invalidate an amnesty that paved the way for Mr Zardari and Ms Bhutto to return to the country last year.
The PPP fears that if all the judges sacked by Mr Musharraf get their jobs back, they may invalidate an amnesty that paved the way for Mr Zardari and Ms Bhutto to return to the country last year.
That would leave Mr Zardari open to prosecution on long-standing corruption charges.
That would leave Mr Zardari open to prosecution on long-standing corruption charges.
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