Pakistan fell back into political turmoil yesterday when Nawaz Sharif, the former Prime Minister, said that he was pulling his party out of the country's six-week-old coalition Government.

Mr Sharif, the head of the Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz), announced that all nine ministers from his party would resign today, although they would continue to support the coalition.

He made the announcement after failing to break a deadlock with the Pakistan People's Party (PPP), his main coalition partner, over the reinstatement of judges dismissed by President Musharraf last year.

“Our ministers will meet the Prime Minister tomorrow and will submit their resignations,” Mr Sharif told a news conference.

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Background

• Pakistan in turmoil as ‘martial law’ imposed

• Bhutto escapes as bombers kill 126

• Timeline: Pakistan's period of turmoil

• The man out to oust a President

• Internal crisis gives Pakistan reason for hope

Related Links

• A government left paralysed

• The problems of agreeing on justice for judges

• Judges freed as Pakistan embraces democracy

“We want the unconditional, dignified and honourable return of the judges,” he said. “For the time being, we'll not sit in opposition. We will not be part of any conspiracy aimed at strengthening dictatorships.”

The reinstatement of the 60 judges, including the Chief Justice, was the main condition for Mr Sharif joining forces with the PPP, which is led by Asif Ali Zardari, the widower of Benazir Bhutto.

Mr Sharif was overthrown by Mr Musharraf — then his army chief — in a bloodless coup in 1999 and is keen to avenge his ousting and banishment. But Mr Sharif and Mr Zardari disagree on the mechanics of the judges' reinstatement and other complex legal and political issues, such as the status of the judges that Mr Musharraf installed after the purge.

They also differ on Mr Musharraf's fate, with Mr Zardari, backed by the United States and Britain, pushing for a continued role for the unpopular President.

The Government may still survive, but the move is seen as a serious setback for Pakistan's political stability and its transition to civilian democratic government after nine years of military rule.

Among Mr Sharif's followers in the 24-member Cabinet is Ishaq Dar, the Finance Minister, who was due to present the annual budget in the next few weeks.

The two other parties in the shaky four-party coalition, the Pashtun nationalist Awami National Party and the pro-Taleban Jamiat Ulema Islam, show no signs of leaving the Government as well.

But the resignations could lead to a realignment of political forces, making the PPP join hands with the pro-Musharraf Pakistan Muslim League (Q) faction.

Mr Musharraf's aides and leaders of the PPP have already been negotiating a deal that could allow Mr Musharraf to stay in office in return for his giving up some powers, such as the right to dismiss Parliament.

Mr Sharif's move came as the Commonwealth agreed to readmit Pakistan after a six-month suspension triggered by last year's state of emergency.

Tussle for power:

2007

March
President Musharraf suspends the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court for alleged abuse of office. Several judges quit in protest

October
Mr Musharraf wins re-election

November
As the judiciary hears a challenge to his re-election Mr Musharraf dismisses 60 judges, appointing a new set who validate his presidency

2008

February
The former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif stakes his election campaign on a promise to restore sacked judges. His Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) party and Asif Zardari's PPP win in polls

April
Deadline of May 12 set by the two parties to reinstate sacked judges.

Source: Times archives

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