Party Quits Pakistan Coalition

People's Party, government's senior partner, likely to remain, with new allies
By Matt Cantor,  Newser Staff
Posted Aug 25, 2008 11:02 AM CDT
Party Quits Pakistan Coalition
A Pakistani police officer examines a ruined police station after a suicide car bombing that killed at least six officers and was claimed by the Taliban, Aug. 23, 2008.   (AP Photo/Sherin Zada)

Pakistan’s coalition government collapsed today, the Wall Street Journal reports, with the Pakistan Muslim League—led by former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif—breaking with the Pakistan People’s Party. Sharif said his party was quitting the alliance because it wouldn’t restore judges sacked by just-ousted president Pervez Musharraf. The PPP, led by Asif Ali Zardari, appears likely to find other, smaller parties to join a ruling parliamentary coalition.

The Muslim League also says a former chief justice will be its candidate for president, vying with Zardari to replace Musharraf. Meanwhile, Pakistan officially banned the Taliban after continued attacks on security forces and public buildings, including bombings Thursday that killed 67. “This organization is a terrorist organization and created mayhem against the public life,” one official said. (More Pakistan stories.)

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