ISLAMABAD, Nov 24: Pakistan Muslim League-N chief Nawaz Sharif severely criticised Governor Salman Taseer on Monday for trying to sabotage the coalition arrangement in Punjab.

During an informal chat with reporters at the Punjab House, he said President Asif Ali Zardari should know that Mr Taseer was one of those people who were trying to rock the PML-N coalition with the Pakistan People’s Party in Punjab.

Mr Sharif said the president had been heard as saying that some people were ‘provoking’ him.

When asked if he thought the nation could again suffer the politics of confrontation of 1990s, he said the PML-N had been demonstrating “patience” and waiting for a positive response from the PPP.

He said the PML-N wanted President Zardari and Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani to complete their terms, but for that to happen the PPP would have to take steps for restoration of the 1973 Constitution.

Mr Sharif regretted that the government was pursuing the policies of Gen (retd) Pervez Musharraf and reiterated the PML-N’s demand for repealing the 17th Amendment and undoing the unconstitutional steps taken after imposition of emergency on Nov 3 last year.

Earlier, Mr Sharif attended a lunch hosted by the Australian high commissioner for him and ambassadors and high commissioners of 24 countries of South Asia and Central Asia.

He said that it was a monthly feature of the diplomatic group and this time they had invited him to the gathering.