Advertising

The Seattle Times Company

NWjobs | NWautos | NWhomes | NWsource | Free Classifieds | seattletimes.com

The Seattle Times

Nation & World


Our network sites seattletimes.com | Advanced

Originally published Tuesday, August 26, 2008 at 12:00 AM

E-mail article     Print view

Ruling coalition splits in Pakistan

Pakistan's long-troubled ruling coalition collapsed Monday amid arguments over who should be the country's next president and whether and...

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — Pakistan's long-troubled ruling coalition collapsed Monday amid arguments over who should be the country's next president and whether and how to reinstate dozens of judges fired last year.

Former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif pulled his party out of the coalition Monday and joined the opposition.

The dramatic break came one week after Pervez Musharraf resigned the presidency amid a growing Islamist insurgency, which threatens Pakistan's stability and that of neighboring Afghanistan.

Sharif's Pakistan Muslim League-N blamed Asif Ali Zardari's Pakistan People's Party (PPP) for reneging on a pledge to reinstate dozens of judges Musharraf fired.

The demise of the coalition does not necessarily mean the government will collapse — at least not immediately. Zardari, widower of assassinated former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, is expected to rally support from allies and form a new government.

The discord will be a setback for the Bush administration, which has urged Pakistan to tackle the Taliban- and al-Qaida-inspired militancy in the tribal border area, which is a base for the insurgency in Afghanistan.

Sharif's party selected former Supreme Court chief justice Saeed-uz-Zaman Siddiqui to challenge Zardari for president. Siddiqui, a longtime political ally of Sharif, was appointed chief justice of the Supreme Court in July 1999 but was later ousted. A stalwart critic of Musharraf and Pakistan's military and intelligence agencies, Siddiqui is a respected figure in Pakistan's increasingly powerful legal community and could pose a serious challenge to Zardari.

Compiled from McClatchy Newspapers, Los Angeles Times, The Washington Post and The Associated Press

Copyright © 2008 The Seattle Times Company

More Nation & World headlines...

E-mail article Print view      Share:    Digg     Newsvine

advertising

Tight Senate vote launches health care over hurdle

Awaiting daughter's birth, astronaut busy on spacewalk

Anti-Taliban militias arise in Afghanistan

China coal mine blast death toll jumps to 87

Iran gets ready for military exercises

Advertising

Video

LA Galaxy's David Beckham
Los Angeles Galaxy's David Beckham talks about the upcoming MLS Cup final during after a team practice.

Real Salt Lake's Kyle Beckerman
MLS trophy arrives in Seattle
Chittenden Locks Inspection
Interview with New Moon actors
Full interview with New Moon actors
Artistic Roller Skating
Girls Soccer: Mercer Island vs. Glacier Peak
Smash Putt! Miniature Golf
Opening day at Crystal Mountain

Marketplace

nwautos

2009's most fuel-efficient sedansnew
Choosing a new sedan? Weigh the impact of your choice on your wallet and on the planet.
Post a comment

Open Houses

Find this weekend's open house listings.
Or search by location:

 
Most read
Most commented
Most e-mailed
 
 
Advertising