Lahore, Apr 22: Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari has reportedly said that the countdown for the restoration of judges sacked on November 3, 2007, has not yet begun.

According to him, the process would start after the formation of all four provincial governments.

The PPP co-chairman said that he was developing a consensus among coalition partners on the draft resolution for the restoration of the sacked judges. The PPP was committed to restoring the sacked judges under the Murree Declaration. Zardari said he did not want a judiciary that would succumb to the pressure of the government, the Daily Times quoted him as saying.

Meanwhile, the relations between the PPP and the PML-N, two main coalition partners in the Pakistan government, have started turning sour over the judges’ restoration issue. If a private TV channel report in Pakistan is to be believed, the PML-N has decided to quit all federal ministries if the deadlock with the PPP over the restoration of the sacked judges persists.

The decision came after PML-N leader Nawaz Sharif’s meeting with the leaders of his party on Monday night.

However, said the TV report, the PML-N would to continue to support the PPP even after resigning from the federal cabinet.

Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani of the PPP had taken oath of office and secrecy on March 25, after the country witnessed a fractured verdict in the February 18 elections. The PPP and PML-N are the two major players in the coalition government. (ANI)