ISLAMABAD, 12 May 2008 — With the latest talks in London failing to bridge gaps between Pakistan’s coalition partners over the issue of sacked judges, there was question mark yesterday over the viability of the government in Islamabad.
Representatives of the junior partner, ex-Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s Pakistan Muslim League, said its members would meet today to consider whether to stay in the coalition. The party has already threatened to quit the Cabinet.
Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani , however, was confident “there is absolutely no threat to the coalition’s unity and we are not considering the option of dissolving the present National Assembly,” which came into being only three months ago.
He said both partners — the Pakistan People’s Party and Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) — agreed on restoring the judges sacked by President Pervez Musharraf last year. Their only difference was over the procedure.
PPP Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari and Sharif met Friday in London. Negotiators from the parties also met Saturday, but no agreement had come by late yesterday.
Zardari and Sharif also met separately Sunday with US Assistant Secretary of State Richard Boucher, who was visiting London. Elizabeth Colton, spokeswoman for the US Embassy in Islamabad, confirmed the meetings.
She did not reveal what the meetings entailed. But in response to reports that they were on the topic of the judges, Colton said: “The restoration of judges is Pakistan’s issue to solve. It is not for the United States to prescribe solutions.”
“It looks now it will be missed,” Minister of Education Ahsan Iqbal, who is a top official of PML (N), said of today’s deadline.
