LAHORE, Nov 18: ANP leader Azam Hoti has denied suggestions that he was released from jail as a result of some deal between his party and the government.

Talking to Dawn on Sunday, he said he had sought bail on medical grounds back in July, much before the Sept 11 terror attacks on the World Trade Centre and the Pentagon which had changed the world situation.

Mr Hoti said he was not the only one to get bail on medical grounds as several leaders facing NAB cases, including PPP leader Faisal Saleh Hayat, were also set free on medical grounds.

The former minister said had there been a deal between the ANP and the government, his party should have stood on the side of the government. But, he said, this was not the case.

He said what the government was saying about Afghanistan today was the same the ANP had been reiterating for the past 15 years.

Mr Hoti said he was still a supporter of deposed prime minister Nawaz Sharif, in whose cabinet he was a minister.