Islamabad, March 9: Reversing its earlier stand in an apparent bid to provide stability, Nawaz Sharif’s PML(N) on Sunday decided to join the PPP-led coalition government and the two parties agreed to resinstate all the judges sacked by Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf within a month of assuming power.

The long-time foes clinched a power-sharing deal, etching the contours of the new government at a one-to-one meeting between PPP Chairman Asif Ali Zardari and Sharif at the former premier’s weekend retreat in the hill resort of Murree.

A joint declaration signed by Sharif and Zardari, widower of former premier Benazir Bhutto, however, made no mention of possible impeachment of Musharraf, an idea championed by PML(N) but disfavoured by PPP which has said that it does not want to “rock the boat”. “In her (Bhutto’s) memory we signed this... and Insha Allah (God willing) we intend to stick to the road to democracy,” Zardari said after the meeting.

PML-N, which had earlier said that it would support the government from outside, agreed to be part of the federal cabinet and to support the PPP’s nominee for the post of prime minister. PPP emerged as the largest party in the March 18 poll, winning 120 of 342 seats while PML (N) bagged 90.

The PPP said it would join the PML-N-led government in the politically crucial

Punjab as the two parties asked Musharraf to immediately convene the National Assembly.

The PPP gave in to Sharif’s demand of resinstating the judges sacked by Musharraf and the statement said that the new parliament will move a resolution within 30 days of forming government to restore the pre-emergency judiciary. PML-N had demanded the reinstatement of judges, including former Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry, which has been strongly opposed by Musharraf who had even said that he would quit if such a step was taken.

“We have decided that the restoration of the deposed judges as it was on November 2, 2007 shall be brought about through a Parliamentary resolution to be passed in the national Assembly within 30 days of the formation of the federal government,” Sharif said.

Asked about the new government’s relationship with the President, Zardari replied: “The democratic forces of Pakistan do not believe in personal agendas. We believe in the office of the President and we believe in the office of the prime minister. We are hoping that everybody will work together in harmony and strengthen democracy.”

Sharif said, “If Musharraf and his supporters say this is a hung parliament, they should not have any misperceptions that it will tolerate dictatorship.The people gave a verdict against his dictatorial rule of eight years. I think he should accept the reality and the people’s verdict and not delay the formation of the government.”