PAKISTAN:PAKISTAN'S FRAGILE coalition government suffered a blow yesterday when Nawaz Sharif, leader of the second-largest party, pulled his ministers from the six-week-old cabinet.
The withdrawal of the Pakistan Muslim League followed the collapse of talks with Asif Ali Zardari, the leader of the largest party, over how to reinstate about 45 senior judges sacked by the president, Pervez Musharraf, last November. After a final attempt at talks, which shifted from Dubai to London, Mr Sharif returned to Islamabad to announce that his ministers would resign. Nine of the 24 cabinet positions, including the finance minister, are held by Sharif loyalists.
The split destabilises Pakistani politics and raises fears for the transition to civilian rule after nine years under Mr Musharraf. But for now it is more of a political trial separation than a divorce.
Mr Sharif said he was "pained" to withdraw his ministers and would not seek to collapse the fledgling government. Instead of joining the opposition, his party would support Mr Zardari's party on an "issue-by-issue" basis.
"We will not become part of any conspiracy to destabilise the democratic process," he said.
Mr Zardari's Pakistan People's Party continued the conciliatory tone, saying that the issue was not whether the judges should be restored but "exactly how best to do it".
The awkward manoeuvres between the political allies are the public face of a complex power negotiation involving Pakistani diplomats, military generals and influential American officials. On the surface, Mr Sharif and Mr Zardari are arguing about a relatively technical issue.
Both agree that sacked judges, including the firebrand former chief justice, Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, should be reinstated. But while Mr Sharif advocates their immediate return, Mr Zardari's PPP wants a more cautious approach, including a judicial reform package to limit the chief justice's powers.
The controversy overlays a more sensitive debate about the fate of Mr Musharraf, who suffered a humiliating defeat in last February's election. He has made it clear that he is not prepared to accept the return of Mr Chaudhry. Despite his electoral collapse, he enjoys the support of two powerful backers: the Pakistani military and the US government.
Meanwhile, the country is burdened by electricity shortages and rising inflation running at 17 per cent.
- (Guardian Service)