Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) chief Nawaz Sharif Monday announced that the PML-N would quit the ruling coalition.

Addressing a news conference here, Sharif blamed its coalition partner Pakistan People's Party (PPP) for breaking promises and said the PML-N was forced to quit.

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) chief Nawaz Sharif speaks during a news conference in Islamanabd August 25, 2008. [Xinhua Photo]

Sharif pointed out that PPP and PML-N had agreed to restore some 60 deposed judges a day after president's impeachment or resignation but they had not been restored so far.

"We tried our best to save the coalition so that democracy can flourish," Sharif said.

Sharif said all efforts aiming at persuading PPP Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari to take practical steps failed.

Signed by Zardari and Sharif, an agreement about the nomination of presidential candidate between the PPP and the PML-N was also shown at the news conference.

It was also decided that the new president would be nominated through consensus among coalition partners, Sharif said.

The PPP on Saturday announced that Zardari would contest the forthcoming presidential election as their candidate.

Siddiqul Farooq, spokesman of the PML-N commented that PPP's decision to nominate Zardari had nothing to do with the ruling coalition and the PML-N was not taken into confidence on it.

The PML-N decided to nominate justice Saeed-uz-Zaman as its own presidential candidate, Sharif said, adding that the PML-N did not want to create any hurdle for the PPP-led government.

He added that the PML-N would play a role as an opposition in a constructive and positive manner.

(Xinhua News Agency August 26, 2008)