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| February 6, 2006 | Monday | Muharram 7, 1427 |
Nawaz denies any written agreement with govt
LONDON, Feb 5: Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif has denied existence of any written agreement with the government of Pakistan and said that an understanding is in place with the Saudi government that there will be no restrictions on him to travel to any country after he lands in Saudi Arabia.
In an interview with BBC on Sunday, he said that the government had sent him a draft agreement in jail, which he refused to sign.
Mr Sharif said that he had reached an understanding with the Saudi government that there would be no restrictions on him to move to any country after his landing in Saudi Arabia.
When asked if the rapprochement was written or verbal, he said he would not like to talk about it. There were few things, which could not be told. “I can tell you only to this extent,” he added.
“When I was in jail, I knew nothing about any talks with the government. King Fahd and King Abdullah were after this development. King Abdullah had expressed his desire with President Gen Pervez Musharraf during his meeting in General Assembly that Nawaz Sharif be sent to Saudi Arabia instead of being kept in jail. I and my family are highly obliged to King Abdullah for his countless acts of graciousness,” he said.
He said: “When first King Abdullah contacted Gen Musharraf to send me to Saudi Arabia, President Musharraf said let the case be decided. The president was of the view probably that the court will award me death sentence. When it did not happen, Gen Musharraf talked to the Saudi government. I was told by a representative of King Abdullah in jail that my parents are ready to go out of country then I had no other option.”
About waging a struggle for restoration of democratic order by staying in the country, he said that rejecting the message of King Abdullah was tantamount to rejecting a gracious offer. “I think we had made a correct decision by the grace of Almighty Allah.”
Regarding military strike in Kargil, Mr Sharif said that such adventurism was only in the knowledge of Gen Musharraf, Gen Aziz, Gen Mehmood and area commander.
Mr Sharif said that he had no plans to dismiss Gen Musharraf as army chief in the wake of Kargil episode. The decision to remove him from the office was taken after publication of reports on removal of Quetta corps commander Tariq Pervez. “I had expelled Gen Tariq Pervez on the instance of Gen Musharaf, but an impression was created in the media that Gen Musharraf had expelled Gen Tariq Pervez for his meeting with me,” he added.
“I asked Gen Musharraf to contradict media reports but when he did not, a decision was taken to expel him.”
About taunts from President Musharraf for not expressing gratitude, Mr Sharif said it was beyond his comprehension for what he should have thanked him, for not issuing passport, sending him to exile, handcuffing him or sending him to jail. “Acquisition of passport is my legitimate right and I cannot be deprived of this right,” Mr Sharif said.—Online
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