Sharif: PML-N out of coalition government

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan, Aug. 25 (UPI) -- Pakistan's coalition government collapsed Monday after minority party leader Nawaz Sharif said his party would withdraw from the 5-month-old government.

The New York Times reported that Sharif's party, the Pakistan Muslim League-N, had been expected in recent days to withdraw from the coalition government.

"We have been forced to leave the coalition," Sharif said. "We joined the coalition with full sincerity for the restoration of democracy. Unfortunately all the promises were not honored."

The government dissolved after Sharif parted ways with majority leader Asif Ali Zardari. President Pervez Musharraf resigned last week under threat of impeachment.

The newspaper reported that political observers said they expected the government would be able to piece together a new government coalition with smaller parties.

PML-N officials have supported the reinstatement of several judges fired by Musharraf, while their PPP counterparts are fearful of the legal fallout from such actions.

"When written documents are repeatedly flouted, trust cannot remain," Sharif said of the political conflict. "We cannot find a ray of hope."