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Pakistani parties to share power | |
(30 minutes later) | |
The leaders of the two parties that won Pakistan's elections have signed an agreement on a coalition government. | The leaders of the two parties that won Pakistan's elections have signed an agreement on a coalition government. |
Asif Ali Zardari, widower of ex-premier Benazir Bhutto, and ex-PM Nawaz Sharif called on President Pervez Musharraf to convene parliament immediately. | Asif Ali Zardari, widower of ex-premier Benazir Bhutto, and ex-PM Nawaz Sharif called on President Pervez Musharraf to convene parliament immediately. |
February's parliamentary elections delivered a crushing defeat to parties loyal to President Pervez Musharraf. | February's parliamentary elections delivered a crushing defeat to parties loyal to President Pervez Musharraf. |
Mr Musharraf has urged the incoming government to leave politics aside and concentrate on good governance. | Mr Musharraf has urged the incoming government to leave politics aside and concentrate on good governance. |
The coalition deal will bring together the Pakistan People's Party, which was led by Benazir Bhutto until her assassination, and the PML(N) party of Mr Sharif. | The coalition deal will bring together the Pakistan People's Party, which was led by Benazir Bhutto until her assassination, and the PML(N) party of Mr Sharif. |
'Blow to Musharraf' | |
Mr Sharif has consistently called for the president to step down in the wake of the elections, which were regarded as a key step in Pakistan's transition from military to civilian rule. | Mr Sharif has consistently called for the president to step down in the wake of the elections, which were regarded as a key step in Pakistan's transition from military to civilian rule. |
The BBC's Barbara Plett, in Islamabad, says the deal will be seen as a further blow to Mr Musharraf who will face a parliament dominated by his adversaries. | |
Two issues had dominated the talks: The PML(N) party's insistence that judges sacked by Mr Musharraf in November be reinstated, and the PPP's desire for Mr Sharif's party to formally sign up to the cabinet. | |
Mr Zardari and Mr Sharif told a news conference that both matters had been settled. | |
All the sacked judges will be reinstated via a parliamentary resolution passed within 30 days of forming a new government. | |
That appears to mean that the chief justice will get back his job, in defiance of Mr Musharraf's strong objections, our correspondent says. | |
In return Nawaz Sharif has agreed that his party will join the cabinet - even though he does not recognise the president's right to rule. | |
The PPP said it would proceed cautiously when it came to dealing with the president. | |
But most analysts see this as a step either to the reduction of his powers - or a confrontation between the new parliament and the presidency. | |
Benazir Bhutto was killed in a suicide attack in the garrison city of Rawalpindi on 27 December, causing the elections to be delayed | Benazir Bhutto was killed in a suicide attack in the garrison city of Rawalpindi on 27 December, causing the elections to be delayed |