Islamabad: The Pakistan Muslim League (N) headed by Nawaz Sharif is likely to withdraw support to the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) on Monday.
A formal announcement is expected after the central executive of the party meets.
The PML(N) is against the PPP's decision to elect Asif Ali Zardari as President.
On September 6, Pakistan will hold a presidential election and as per the country's constitution, the new president will be nominated by members of the four provincial assemblies in the national parliament.
A decision on whether to boycott the presidential election altogether will also be taken at the meeting today.
Nawaz Sharif told CNN IBN minutes before a crucial meeting on Monday that his party would prefer the election to take place in October rather than September.
Speaking exclusively to CNN on the issue, Nawaz Sharif said, “ Zardari is not full filling his promises of the agreement…It was decided that judges will be restored in 24 hours after the departure of Musharraf but that also not happened.”
“It was decided that Presidential candidate will be from consensus but strange to know he announced his name …we are likely to withdraw support today after the meeting,” he added.
Sharif is clear that he feels betrayed and that Asif Ali Zardari had gone back on his assurance that the new president would be nominated from a political consensus.
As Benazir Bhutto's widower, Zardari might seem an obvious choice for the PPP but the 55-year-old who was a former minister in one of her governments is a controversial leader as he has battled allegations of embezzlement and corruption for years.
Zardari was named co-chairman of the PPP after Bhutto's death in December last year. His son Bilawal too is co-nominated but since Bilawal is still in university, it is Zardari who controls the PPP.
The PPP won the most seats in a February parliamentary election. Zardari, who led his party to victory then shook hands with Nawaz Sharif, another former prime minister of Pakistan and a once-adversary of his wife.
Speaking exclusively to CNN on the issue, Nawaz Sharif said, “ Zardari is not full filling his promises of the agreement…It was decided that judges will be restored in 24 hours after the departure of Musharraf but that also not happened.”
“ It was decided that Presidential candidate will be from consensus but strange to know he announced his name …we are likely to withdraw support today after the meeting,” he added.
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