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Nawaz Sharif said his party is quitting the Pakistani Cabinet

Ex-Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has announced his party is withdrawing from the Cabinet, raising doubts over the government's stability and country's transition to democracy after eight years of military rule.

Sharif said, however, the party would still support the six-week-old coalition government despite its disagreement with its main partner over the restoration of judges fired by President Pervez Musharraf.

Both parties still appear reluctant to sever ties and the civilian government led by the party of Asif Ali Zardari is likely to survive over the short term.

Sharif said ministers from his party would meet with Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and hand in their resignations. He said he was "very pained" at the decision.

"We will sit together ... We are not going to sit on the opposition benches for the time being," he added. "We will not take any step which will benefit Musharraf's dictatorship."

Asked if his party would still support the government on all matters, he said it would take decisions on an "issue by issue" basis.

The two parties formed a coalition after defeating Musharraf allies in February elections. A break in the coalition could throw a political lifeline to the embattled president, who has taken a back seat in the day-to-day running of Pakistan since the new government took office.

The Commonwealth cited Pakistan's progress in restoring democracy in lifting its suspension from the 53-nation group, comprised of Britain and its former colonies.

Musharraf's imposition of emergency rule in November prompted Pakistan's exclusion from the Commonwealth. The organisation has little power, but the action was a diplomatic embarrassment for the South Asian nation.

Both Zardari and Sharif have called for the reinstatement of dozens of judges axed by Musharraf when he declared a state of emergency in November to forestall a Supreme Court ruling on his eligibility for office. But they disagreed on the mechanics, and weekend negotiations in London did not produce a deal. Zardari's party responded with a conciliatory statement, saying there was "no doubt that the sacked judges have to be restored ... the only question is how best to do it."