The Press Trust of India reported that PPP leader Asif Ali Zardari requested Sharif rejoin Pakistan's ruling coalition.

Zardari reportedly made the request in a telephone call with Sharif, a senior PML-N leader said.

Sharif thanked Zardari for the personal apology he issued to him, but said the PML-N would not rejoin the coalition "in the near future."

Pakistan's coalition government collapsed after Sharif said his party would withdraw, partly over the failure to have several judges reinstated who were ousted by President Pervez Musharraf, who recently resigned amid threats of impeachment.