May 04, 2008	Sunday	Rabi-us-Sani 27, 1429

LAHORE, May 3: Pakistan Muslim League-N chief Nawaz Sharif has decided not to contest the by-elections.

Sources said the People’s Party’s attitude on the judges’ issue had disappointed the PML-N leader and led to his decision of not taking part in the by-poll.

PML-N spokesman Siddiqul Farooque confirmed the decision in an interview with a private TV channel on Saturday but did not give any reason.

A PML-N official said Mr Sharif informed the party’s central working committee about his decision on Friday when it met to discuss the situation after the Dubai talks between PPP and PML-N leaders.

He said that some participants had suggested that party president Shahbaz Sharif should also not contest the by-poll, but the proposal had been rejected.

The official said that PML-N leaders had expressed doubts that the new May 12 deadline for the reinstatement of deposed judges could be met because the Pakistan People’s Party was not ready to accept Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry as the chief justice.

Despite claims of success by the two parties, the Dubai talks had failed to make any breakthrough, the official said.

Stressing that there were slim chances for the reinstatement of judges by the new deadline, he said the PML-N gave the impression only for the sake of the alliance and this was also acknowledged by Mr Sharif at a press conference in Lahore on Friday.

However, the official said, the PML-N would continue to take part in deliberations of a committee set up to sort out issues regarding the reinstatement of judges.

A PML-N source claimed that US officials were also increasing their pressure on Mr Sharif to soften his stance against President Pervez Musharraf.

Mr Sharif is reported to have diverted his attention towards reorganising his party for “difficult times” ahead. He would give more time to the reorganisation process after returning from London where his wife Begum Kulsoom was due to undergo a knee surgery, the source said.