Nawaz Sharif's party set to withdraw from coalition government

Islamabad: Former Pakistani prime minister Nawaz Sharif's party is set to withdraw from the nation's coalition government, after failing to come to an agreement over the reinstatement of deposed judges.

Speaking to a news conference, Nawaz Sharif said members of his party will resign from their posts on Tuesday.

"Our ministers will meet the prime minister tomorrow and will submit their resignations ... But we will not become part of any conspiracy to destablise the democratic process," he said.

“Today is May 12. We were bound by this date,'' he said.

Sharif said he was "very pained" at the decision, and added his party "will not sit on opposition benches for the time being."

This announcement comes as the Commonwealth says it has decided to restore Pakistan as a member, because of positive steps taken by the government to fulfill Commonwealth standards.

Pakistan's membership was revoked last November when President Musharraf refused to lift a state of emergency.