Nawaz Sharif and Asif Ali Zardari, leaders of the majority parties, reached an agreement with the government yesterday: it will be made official within one month. The selection of the prime minister seems to have gone to Makhdoom Amin Fahim, an authoritative leader of the Peoples Party during the exile of Benazir Bhutto.

Islamabad (AsiaNews) - The Pakistan Peoples Party yesterday reached an expected governing agreement with the leading figures of the Muslim League (N): the two parties, after reaching an absolute majority in the elections of last February 18, signed a declaration of understanding that will lead to the formation of the next Pakistani government.

It was announced by the leaders of the formations, Nawaz Sharif (of the Muslim League) and Asif Ali Zardari (Peoples Party), who explain: "In spite of our great electoral success, none of us is able to govern alone.  We believe that together we are able to render good service to the new Pakistan".  President Musharraf also announced that he will convene the parliament within the next few days, to make the new government official "within a month".

One of the prominent points included in the agreement is the complete restoration of the country's judicial class. Iftikhar Chaudry will therefore return to his post as head of the supreme court, after being removed by Musharraf last October.  Together with him, it is expected that all of the judges and magistrates expelled after the leadership's coup last October will be restored.

Nawaz Sharif then announced the withdrawal of his name as candidate for prime minister - an office that the constitution prohibits him from filling, because he has already completed two mandates - and agreed that the premier will come from the Peoples Party.  The selected candidate seems to be Makhdoom Amin Fahim, an authoritative leader of the Party during the exile of Benazir Bhutto.

• Pakistan
• government
• prime
• minister
• Muslim
• League
• People's
• Party
• Sharif
• Musharraf
• Bhutto
• Pakistani
• supreme
• court
• Chaudry