PML-N ministers quit Pak cabinet over judges issue

Tue, May 13 07:23 PM

Rezaul H Laskar Islamabad, May 13 (PTI) Nine PML-N ministers today resigned from the six-week-old PPP-led coalition government over the issue of restoration of judges but both parties kept open the path to reconciliation. Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani refused to accept the resignations tendered to him by the ministers.

On his part, PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif assured Gilani that his party would continue to support the government. PPP decided to keep the ministerial portfolios, except for Finance, vacant hoping to bring around Sharif's party which pulled out its ministers after the deadline for reinstating the judges sacked by President Pervez Musharraf expired yesterday.

The PML-N had nine ministers in the 24-member cabinet that was sworn in on March 31. Officials said Gilani refused to accept their resignations and said a decision on the issue would be taken only after Pakistan People's Party co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari returns to the country.

"A final decision about the resignations will be taken in consultation with the PPP co-chairman when he returns home," an official said. Shortly after the ministers met Gilani, PML-N spokesman Siddique-ul-Farooq said his party could reconsider its decision to withdraw from the coalition if the PPP-led government took "practical steps" to reinstate the deposed judges in accordance with an agreement signed by the two parties in March.

PTI.

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