PML-N not to part ways with PPP till year-end

Lahore, Jul 25: The PML-N, the outside supporter of the PPP-led coalition government in Pakistan, has said that it would wait till the year-end for the judges' issue to be resolved, and in case it remained unresolved it might decide to pull out its support completely.

A party official said that there was no immediate possibility of the PML-N parting ways with the PPP on judges' issue as it is ready to wait for its resolution till December. "We hope the judges' issue will be solved by August end though the party is ready to wait till December for the purpose," the Dawn quoted the senior PML-N official as saying. He added that December could be the decisive month with regard to the future of ruling alliance if the judiciary's issue remained unresolved by then. He refused to reply to the question if his party had accepted the 'ground reality' that any action against President Pervez Musharraf or his acts was possible only after American presidential vote.

He admitted the judges' issue was affecting the PML-N government's working in Punjab like the PPP was feeling the pinch in the federal setup. "A comprehensive package on reforming the local government system, police and anti-corruption departments, etc. has been prepared by the Punjab government in two months through a working group established under a senior provincial minister. But, the implementation of the same depends on whether the provincial government stays in power for at least a couple of years to complete the project," said the official.

Asked if it meant the PML-N feared that lack of simple majority in the Punjab Assembly could jeopardise its government in the province in case of any eventuality like disbanding of the coalition, the official said: "No."

ANI