ISLAMABAD, May 16 (Xinhua) -- Nine ministers from the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) have submitted their resignations after two main parties failed to reach a consensus on the issue of deposed judges.

    In his first public comments on the split in the coalition, Pakistan People's Party (PPP)'s Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari said Wednesday that he wanted PML-N' Chief Nawaz Sharif to remain a partner, and that he was still committed to restoring the judges and negotiations would continue.

    Despite Zardari's efforts to save the coalition government, the crisis caused by the rift over the sacked judges is far from over, analysts said.     

    FUNDAMENTAL DIFFERENCES

    Sharif told a news conference in Islamabad on Monday that the PML-N would withdraw from the coalition government because the PPP could not keep its promise to restore the deposed judges.

    According to a joint statement issued by the PML-N and the PPP on March 9, the judges, who were sacked after a state of emergency was declared in Pakistan on Nov. 3 last year, should be restored by a parliamentary resolution within 30 days after the coalition government was formed.

    However, the two parties failed to reach an agreement on the issue although talks had been held in Dubai, Pakistan and London since the end of April.

    Safeguarding their own interest was the fundamental reason why the two partners were at odds over the issue, analysts said.

    After Nov. 3, a Provisional Constitutional Order and a National Reconciliation Ordinance that granted amnesty to politicians who faced charges within a specific period of time were promulgated in Pakistan.

    Zardari, the widower and political successor of slain ex-Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, was one of those who benefited from the reconciliation ordinance, analysts said.

    While the PPP feared that the provisional constitutional order and the reconciliation ordinance would become invalid if the sacked judges were reinstated, losing their immunity, the PML-N insisted on firing the current judges appointed after Nov. 3 and said it would join protesting lawyers to demand a quick reinstatement of the fired judges.     

    LATENT CRISIS

    The PPP has been preparing itself for a situation once the PML-N withdraws from the ruling coalition, analysts said.

    Zardari did not say whether the ministers' resignations would be accepted or not. But with a majority in parliament even without Sharif's party, he could bring other parties into his government, analysts said.

    The Muttahida Qaumi Movement said on Monday that if the PML-N decided to pull out of the coalition government, the movement was ready to join the coalition at any time.     

    ROOM FOR NEGOTIATIONS

    Despite their differences, both the PPP and the PML-N agreed to maintain the integrity of the ruling coalition, which they believed was conducive to Pakistan's stability and democracy process.

    Sharif said on Monday that his party withdrew from the cabinet, not the ruling coalition.

    "The PML-N will not join the opposition for now," he added.

    Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani also called for a last-ditch effort to save his government Tuesday, after refusing to accept the resignations.

    There was room for further negotiations as the two political parties have expressed willingness to continue cooperation.

    Zardari said he was not contemplating a split with the key partner in the coalition government and would continue working with Sharif despite recent disagreement.

    "I am not looking at a minus-Nawaz position," Zardari told a news conference on Wednesday after meeting with party aides at his Islamabad residence. "I'm looking at a plus-Nawaz position where I take him on every step."

    "Even if we agree to disagree on some issues, we should agree on most of them," he said.