Monday, May 12, 2008, Jamadi-ul-Awwal 5, 1429    

London talks fail
PML-N poised to quit coalition
Nawaz, Shahbaz leave for Islamabad, future strategy to be announced today
Talks will continue in Pakistan: Haqqani

Our Correspondent

London—Pakistan Muslim League (N) and Pakistan People’s Party leaders, despite desperate efforts, failed to reach some common formula for the restoration of judges deposed since November 3, 2007 as a result of state of emergency clamped by Pervez Musharraf in his capacity as Chief of army Staff.
After the last round of talks Pakistan ambassador to US Hussain Haqqani and PML-N President Shahbaz Sharif addressed a joint press conference here on Sunday.
There are all indications that PML (N) has made up its mind to part its way from the coalition cabinet in the centre.
A formal announcement by Nawaz Sharif, the PML (N) leader is being expected today after he reaches Pakistan and holds high level meeting of his party.
Nawaz Sharif and PPP Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari Sunday had separate meetings with US Assistant Secretary of State (South Asia) Richard Boucher. PML-N sources said Nawaz Sharif met with Boucher on latter’s request while on way from Bangladesh. The sources said Boucher did try to use his good offices to bring conciliation between PPP and PML (N) on judges issue but none of the party confirmed this.
Nawaz Sharif and Shahbaz Sharif left London for Islamabad on Sunday night. He will preside over a joint meeting of his party’s Central Working Committee and Parliamentary Committee to finalise party’s stance after the failure of London talks.
PPP leader Hussain Haqqani told media that talks could resume in Pakistan as a fresh effort.
The US Assistant Secretary of State (South Aisa) said in London that his country wanted the two major political parties, PPP , PML-N to work in harmony.
In a statement in London, Boucher said that main purpose of his meetings with Nawaz Sharif and Asif Ali Zardari was to promote democracy in Pakistan. He never intended to bring any pressure onto them. He said US only wanted strengthening of democracy in Pakistan and Washington will continue its efforts.
In Islamabad, the spokesman of the US embassy clarified that Boucher did not put any pressure on Nawaz Sharif or Asif Zardari regarding the judges issue. She said, restoration of deposed judges is Pakistan’s own problem, the US does not propose any solution.
NNI adds: Meanwhile, addressing a press conference before his departure for Islamabad Nawaz Sharif said PPP and PML-N have failed to bridge differences over the restoration of deposed judges and the issue remains.
Nawaz Sharif said PML-N team held talks with PPP Co-Chairperson Asif Ali Zardari for two days but failed to make any headway on the issue of deposed judiciary.
He said we are still making sincere efforts to keep coalition government intact and restore judiciary, but the issue could not be resolved.
Nawaz Sharif said that PML-N will decide the future strategy in its joint Central Working Committee and Parliamentary Party meeting on Monday.
“Judges should have been restored according to Murree Declaration by April 30, but the deadline was extended in Dubai and now we are bound to restore them to their posts on May 12”, he emphasized.
PML-N Quaid said we want the restoration of deposed judges with dignity and do not want to adopt a formula to make us repent later. To a question, he said the meeting with US Assistant Secretary of State Richard Boucher was held at his wish and it did not concern restoration of judges. He said holding of talks with US official does not mean that we take dictation from US.