Date:07/09/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/09/07/stories/2008090759761400.htm

International

He must rise above party loyalty: Sharif

Nirupama Subramanian

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Muslim League (N) leader Nawaz Sharif, who walked out of the PPP-led ruling coalition last month, called Asif Ali Zardari to congratulate him on his election as President. His election was a “triumph of democracy,” said Mr. Sharif.

Assuring Mr. Zardari of his “continued cooperation”, Mr. Sharif also expressed the hope Mr. Zardari would rise above his party loyalty to represent “the federation of Pakistan.”

Other PML (N) leaders, including spokesman Ahsan Iqbal, were more direct, demanding that Mr. Zardari step down as PPP co-chairman in order to carry out his role as a “non-partisan” President, who represented not just a political party but the entire country.

Mr. Ahsan also called upon Mr. Zardari to “surrender” the executive powers of his new office, saying the presidency was envisaged as no more than a figurehead in the 1973 Constitution.