June 12, 2008	Thursday	Jamadi-us-Sani 07, 1429

ISLAMABAD, June 11: Pakistan Muslim League-N chief Mian Nawaz Sharif has urged Pakistan People’s Party co-chairman Asif Zardari to act fast on the judges’ issue in the interest of the coalition, but avoided giving a timeframe for his decision about quitting the ruling coalition if the deposed judges are not reinstated.

Talking to reporters at the Punjab House after his return from London on Wednesday to join the lawyers’ long march, the PML-N chief appealed to the nation to come out in support of the deposed judges and for ousting President Pervez Musharraf.

“Pakistan is in danger today… I invite every child of the country to take part in this peaceful long march,” Mr Sharif said, adding that the long march would continue till the restoration of the judges and ouster of President Musharraf.

When asked if the PML-N would quit the ruling coalition and sit in the opposition if the judges were not reinstated, Mr Sharif said that at this stage he could not say anything about it or give an exact date for it. “My heart too demands a timeframe, but I am not in a position to make any announcement right now,” he said.

Mr Sharif said it would be good for the coalition if Mr Zardari restored the judges.

He said the PML-N would honour the promise made to the nation and actively participate in the long march. “I will take part in the march in Lahore on Thursday,” he said, adding that the march was necessary for the security of future generations and the country.

Mr Sharif was of the view that things would not move forward if the deposed judges, including Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry, were not reinstated.