Nawaz walked out of coalition after serving his purpose of getting rid of Musharraf: WSJ
28 Aug 2008, 1451 Hrs

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Washington, Aug 28 (ANI): PML-N leader and former Pakistan premier Nawaz Sharif suavely moved out of the PPP-led federal coalition after solving his purpose of getting rid of his old foe, former president Pervez Musharraf. His act was also meant to show himself as a "political martyr" for the sake of democracy, said a Wall Street Journal (WSJ) editorial.

After February 18 elections, Sharif agreed to support the PPP's prime minister pick Yousuf Raza Gilani in exchange for control over Punjab, even as the common goal of both the parties was to oust Musharraf, it added.

"Now that's done, Sharif is showing his true colours. He resigned from the governing coalition on Monday in protest over the treatment of judges fired by Musharraf last year," added the editorial.

By declaring that he was walking out of the coalition as PPP Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari failed to fulfill his promise of restoring all Supreme Court judges, including deposed CJ Iftikhar Chaudhry, "Sharif is, in effect, setting himself up as a political martyr for democracy ... The PPP is worried most about the restoration of one judge: Iftikhar Chaudhry", added the US daily.

It accused Nawaz of collaborating with the PPP "out of expediency" and not because there was a meeting of the minds between the two. It also called Iftikhar Chaudhry a "highly politicised figure". (ANI)