Sharif's vows to back Pakistani coalition: PM's office

ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - The party of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif pledged on Monday to maintain support for Pakistan's 6-week old coalition, whatever the party decides to do over an impasse over the restoration of judges, the prime minister's office said in a statement.

Sharif is expected to meet other leaders of his Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz), known as the PML-N, before announcing his next step following the failure to break the deadlock during talks over the weekend. There is speculation that PML-N ministers could quit Gilani's cabinet, but maintain support for the coalition from outside the government.

"Senior Federal Minister for Food, Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan called on Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani this morning and assured him that PML (N) members would continue to support the coalition government, regardless of the decision taken by the party leadership today," Gilani's office said.

(Writing by Simon Cameron-Moore; Editing by Sanjeev Miglani)