Zardari says sorry to Sharif, asks him to rejoin coalition

Pakistan People's Party chief Asif Ali Zardari has apologised to PML-N leader Nawaz Sharif, who pulled out of the ruling coalition after accusing the PPP of reneging on promises and asked him to rejoin the government for the sake of the country and democracy.
"I admit that you have been hurt and I apologise for that," Zardari said in a message hours after Sharif withdrew the PML-N from the coalition on Monday.
"I regret that we have failed in the democratic journey we started with my late wife Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif...We had some successes. Together we elected a Prime Minister and defeated a dictator," he said in the message aired on the state-run PTV.Zardari said it was "unfortunate" that Sharif has "refused to travel with us in the coming journey" and asked the PML-N chief to set aside "personal differences" and return to the coalition "in the interest of democracy and Pakistan".
While announcing his decision to pull out of the coalition, Sharif had accused Zardari of violating several agreements on reinstating dozens of judges who were sacked by former President Pervez Musharraf during last year's emergency.
Sharif also said Zardari had violated another agreement that said the PPP would not field a presidential candidate till the post was stripped of controversial powers to dismiss the parliament.
Meanwhile the ruling PPP yesterday filed nomination papers for its chief Asif Ali Zardari for the September 6 presidential polls, saying it had enough support to ensure his victory despite PML-N's decision to pull out of the government and field its own candidate.
PML-N leaders filed nomination papers for Saeed-uz-Zaman Siddiqui. PML-Q candidate Mushahid Hussain Sayed filed the nomination papers accompanied by his party leaders Senior PPP leaders and federal Ministers Sherry Rehman and Khurshid Shah went to the Election Commission with leaders of the Awami National Party and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam, both partners in the ruling coalition, and the opposition Muttahida Qaumi Movement and filed nomination papers for Zardari with Chief Election Commissioner Qazi Muhammad Farooq.
Information Minister Sherry Rehman Sherry said the PPP has a "comfortable number of votes" to ensure Zardari's victory despite the PML-N's decision to leave the coalition.
The PPP had been saddened by the PML-N's move but it would make every effort to take along all political forces to promote the culture of reconciliation, she said.
"We believe that Zardari is the right candidate for this office because he truly represents the unity of the federation," said PPP leader and Law Minister Farooq Naek.
The presidential polls are going to be a three-way contest, with Zardari being pitted against former Supreme Court Chief Justice Saeed-uz-Zaman Siddiqui, who is being backed by the PML-N, and opposition PML-Q secretary general Mushahid Hussain Sayed.