(12 May 08 -RV) Pakistani Ex-Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif announced today his party
is withdrawing from the federal Cabinet but will not oppose Pakistan's six-week old
coalition government. Sharif announced the move following failed talks over the
restoration of judges axed by President Pervez Musharraf in November, and said ministers
from his party will meet with Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani tomorrow to hand in
their resignations. We spoke with Ikram Sehgal from the Pakistan Institute of International
Affairs. He says that the withdrawal of Sharif’s party will actually help the government
to function better.