Pakistan Views

President Pervez Musharraf huddled with key aides on Monday after election winner parties agreed to form a coalition and reinstate the judges he deposed last year, officials said. Asif Ali Zardari, PPP co-chairman and former prime minister Nawaz Sharif signed a coalition pact on Sunday following last month’s general elections. In a major blow to Musharraf they also agreed to bring back, within the first 30 days of the new parliament, the judges ousted by the president during emergency rule last November. Government officials said President Musharraf was “meeting legal aides” at his office in Rawalpindi but did not give details on what was discussed. Private television channels said it was a “strategy meeting” including legal and constitutional advisers. Musharraf has come under pressure from Sharif and supporters of the deposed judges to step down following the drubbing of his political backers in the February 18 parliamentary polls. Musharraf on Saturday urged the incoming government to leave politics aside and focus on good governance, economic management and peace and stability. He denied accusations that he was delaying calling the new parliament, and said Friday the new assemblies would be convened within 10 days. Zardari said they had nothing “personal” against the embattled Musharraf. But Sharif said they considered him to be an unconstitutional president.