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Ruling coalition collapses
Slain Bhutto's party could tighten hold
Asif Shahzad
Issue date: 8/26/08 Section: News
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Militants have stepped up their campaign of violence in recent months, prompting the government Monday to ban the Taliban. The move came after the Islamic militant group claimed responsibility for twin suicide bombings against one of Pakistan's most sensitive military installations that left 67 dead.
The breakdown of the fragile 5-month-old civilian government clears the way for the party of slain former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto to tighten its hold on the government; the West hopes it will make good on pledges to combat terrorism.
Nawaz Sharif, another former premier, announced Monday that he was pulling out of the coalition because it failed to restore judges fired by Musharraf or agree to a neutral replacement for the ousted president.
He blamed Bhutto's widower and political successor, Asif Ali Zardari, for the breakup, and named a retired judge to run against Zardari in the Sept. 6 presidential election by lawmakers.
However, Sharif vowed to play a "constructive" role while in the opposition.
"We don't want to be instrumental in overthrowing any government. We don't have any such intentions," Sharif told a news conference.
His move is not expected to trigger new elections.
A major opposition party has already backed Zardari's presidential bid. That group, together with smaller parties and independents could plug the gap in the government's parliamentary majority.
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M. Ali Kemal
posted 8/26/08 @ 6:37 PM MST
This is the same as this
http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1835814,00.html?xid=feed-cnn-topics
which came first Time or Collegian
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