World | Pakistan
PM yet to accept resignations
All nine federal ministers of Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) presented their resignations yesterday to Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani following the party's decision to quit the coalition government over its failure to reinstate the deposed judges.
- By Shahid Hussain, Correspondent
- Published: 00:41 May 14, 2008
Islamabad: All nine federal ministers of Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) presented their resignations yesterday to Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani following the party's decision to quit the coalition government over its failure to reinstate the deposed judges.
The ministers met Gilani at the Prime Minister House in the capital and submitted their resignations.
Consultations
An aide to the prime minister said Gilani had not yet accepted the resignations and a "final decision" would be taken after consultation with Pakistan People's Party (PPP) co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari.
PPP sources said Zardari had reached Dubai from London and was expected to arrive in Islamabad late yesterday.
PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif, announcing the decision on Monday, said the party would continue to support the government inside the parliament and it would not become part of any conspiracy to destabilise it.
About the fate of the PML-N government in Punjab formed in coalition with PPP, Sharif said he had left it to the discretion of the PPP.
In a statement on Monday the PPP said the ministries vacated by PML-N would be kept vacant, except for the slot of finance minister, and dialogue with the major partner would be resolved to resolve the differences.
It said the PML-N decision would not weaken the PPP's resolve to strengthen the coalition and reinstate the judges.
But the PPP statement emphasised that the effects of the "martial law" of November 3, 2007 that President Pervez Musharraf had imposed as then army chief and the illegal sacking of judges "should be undone in a legal and lawful manner".
Media reports said Gilani had a telephone conversation yesterday with Sharif and urged him to reconsider the decision.
Under the constitution ministers can resign in writing to the president, but senior minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan later said they had addressed the resignations to "the president ex-officio, Islamabad" in line with constitutional requirement.
News Editor's choice
-
Allies quit ruling coalition in Nepal
Political row could trigger months of street protests and violence
-
Qatar blaze 'started at nursery'
Fire killed 19 including 13 children, at Doha’s main shopping centre
-
Jagan jailed over illegal assets
Andhra Pradesh leader accused of corruption, cheating, conspiracy
