Deal finalized on formation of new gov't in Pakistan

ISLAMABAD, March 10 (Xinhua) -- Two major political parties eventually clinched a deal on the formation of new government in the center and provinces in Pakistan on Sunday, local media reported on Monday.

The Pakistan People's Party (PPP) and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), which emerged as the two largest parties in the National Assembly in the general elections, on Sunday signed a joint summit declaration, paving the way for the formation of the new government in the country.

Top leadership of the two parties held a meeting at the residence of Nawaz Sharif, chief of PML-N, in Murree city, around an hour's drive northeast of Islamabad, for three hours and finally reached an agreement.

The two parties agreed that the restoration of the deposed judges as it was on Nov. 2, 2007 should be brought about through a parliamentary resolution to be passed in the National Assembly within 30 days of the formation of the federal government.

According to the joint declaration, the nominee of the PPP for the office of prime minister shall be fully supported by all the coalition partners and PML-N would be part of the federal cabinet while the PPP would join the Punjab government. The speaker and deputy speaker of the National Assembly, lower house of the parliament, would come from PPP, said the declaration.

The leaders of both parties thought they had prepared themselves to form the governments and the National and Provincial Assemblies should be convened immediately, local newspaper The News reported on Monday.

Addressing a joint news conference, Nawaz Sharif said that PML-N still considered President Pervez Musharraf an "unconstitutional and illegal President." He asked Musharraf to step down and accept the people's verdict.

However, The Co-Chairman of PPP Asif Ali Zardari said he did not believe in "personal agendas" and believed in the office of the president.

Local media reports last week indicated that the talks between the two parties hit a deadlock over the issue of deposed judges and Musharraf.

The PML-N insisted that the deposed judges should be reinstated and President Musharraf should go. But the PPP showed more restraint on these two issues.

Nawaz Sharif refused to work with Musharraf and said PML-N members would not take oath under Musharraf's administration.

The agreement between the two sides on Sunday finally gave a deadline on the restoration of deposed judges and PML-N pledged to join the cabinet.

Unlike some senior leaders among PML-N who alleged that both PML-N and PPP and PML-N were in agreement in almost all affairs, Zardari said in an interview with The News that it was not necessary for PPP and PML-N to have 100 percent agreement on every issue. "On some issue there would be 30 percent consensus and on some others 60 percent," he said.

Caretaker Prime Minister Mohammadmian Soomro will formally send a summary to Musharraf on Monday to summon the first session of the National Assembly.

The News quoted informed officials as saying that the first National Assembly session would likely be convened on March 14 or 15 and the entire process including oath-taking of the new Prime Minister and the cabinet ministers would be complete before March 23.

ISLAMABAD, March 10 (Xinhua) -- Pakistan's caretaker Prime Minister Mohammedmian Soomro on Monday sent a summary to President Pervez Musharraf, advising him to convene the new parliament session.

According to the constitution, Musharraf has to convene the National Assembly session on the advice of the prime minister. Full story

ISLAMABAD, March 10 (Xinhua) -- Despite an agreement between Pakistan People's Party (PPP) and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) on the formation of Pakistan's new government on Sunday, the Pakistani people have become more doubtful as to who will become their new Prime Minister (PM).

After a three-hour meeting in Murree city, administered by the garrison city of Rawalpindi, the PPP and PML-N agreed to form a coalition government in the center and Punjab province. They also said that all allied parties would fully support the PM candidate fielded by the PPP. Full story

ISLAMABAD, March 9 (Xinhua) -- Pakistani's two leading political leaders said Sunday that they had agreed to form a coalition government with the prime minister from the Pakistan People's Party (PPP).

"We undertake to form a coalition together for Pakistan, as the people of Pakistan had given mandate to the democratic forces on February 18," said Nawaz Sharif, leader of the Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) at the news conference after his meeting with PPPCo-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari at the scenic town of Murree in eastern Pakistan. Full story

ISLAMABAD, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- Former Pakistani Prime Minister and top leader of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Nawaz Sharif on Wednesday urged the authorities to convene a National Assembly (NA) session.

Addressing a news conference here after a joint meeting held by Pakistan People's Party (PPP), PML-N and Awami National Party (ANP),Sharif said that the NA session must be convened without any delay. Full story

ISLAMABAD, Feb. 25 (Xinhua) -- Former Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif Monday demanded transfer of power to the new government to be formed by majority parties.

Speaking at a press conference here on Monday, Sharif called for convening the National Assembly session to elect the prime minister. He also demanded resignation of President Pervez Musharraf. Full story

ISLAMABAD, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- The Pakistan People's Party (PPP) who emerged as the largest party in the National Assembly in the general elections on Sunday urged the government to convene a session of the new National Assembly and to invite it to form the administration.

The PPP leaders said the government had not yet invited the party to form government despite its victory in the Feb. 18 parliamentary polls. The matter was also discussed during PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari's meeting with newly elected lawmakers from Balochistan province here on Sunday.