Zardari asks PM not to accept PML-N ministers' resignations

Lahore, May 13 : Following PML-N's decision to walk out of the Pakistan coalition government last evening, PPP Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari has asked Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani not to accept the resignations of PML-N ministers, as he would try to resume talks with the second largest coalition partner.

Zardari said his differences with PML-N leader Nawaz Sharif were not serious and that he would not field his party candidate against Sharif in the June 26 by-polls which Sharif would be contesting, the Daily Times quoted a TV report as saying.

According to the report, Zardari said he would call a party meeting after his return from London and that he would persuade the PML-N to resume talks.

He also said that the PPP would not bring new ministers in place of the resigning PML-N ministers, and that he would wait for them to return to the cabinet. But, the channel said he would announce a new Finance minister, in place of PML-N's Ishaq Dar, on Tuesday because of the looming budget.

About the possibilities of forming a coalition government in the Punjab province, the PPP Co-Chairman said that his party would not form a coalition government with the PML-Q and that the PML-N government in Punjab may destabilise without the PPP's support.

He also said that President Pervez Musharraf would be impeached when the coalition would have two-thirds majority in the parliament.

ANI