September 07, 2007	Friday	Sha'aban 24, 1428

LONDON, Sept 6: The All Pakistan Democratic Alliance (APDM) will meet immediately after Nawaz Sharif’s arrival in Pakistan to review the progress so far made in the struggle against dictatorship and to chalk out a programme of public meetings for mobilising public support for the restoration of democracy.

Talking to Dawn on a wide range of topics on the eve of his expected departure home, Mr Sharif said the APDM would continue its struggle even in the month of Ramazan.

Asked how comfortable did he feel sitting with Maulana Fazlur Rehman in the APDM knowing very well that the religious alliance was a coalition partner in Balochistan where an army operation was going on with the consent of the provincial government, Mr Sharif said that the JUI chief had made it clear in the APC and later that he was prepared to quit the provincial government “provided there is a viable alternative”.

In what sounded like a very feeble defence of the Maulana, the former prime minister said: “So, I think let the time come when it becomes absolutely essential for the MMA to take a decision. We do not want to pressurise him.”

Making this defence even feebler Mr Sharif referred to what he called the ongoing tussle between Ms Bhutto and the Maulana and said: “The Maulana has said he was prepared to take such an action if the PPP was willing to cooperate.”

Answering a question about the kind of relationship he and Ms Bhutto would have in future since the two had fallen out on the Charter of Democracy, he said: “We do not want to get involved in any mud-slinging against each other. We don’t want to level personal attacks against each other, at least from my side there would not be any personal attack. We have no personal vendetta against each other, at least I don’t have. Those times have gone. We are now in the 21st century. We have to make a new beginning. And we have made a new beginning.”

He said he differed with Ms Bhutto on principles. “If I have said that Ms Bhutto is negotiating with Musharraf I said this because it has a certain background. The reason is we have signed the Charter of Democracy and CoD disallows either of the party to get into any parleys, any negotiations; or discussion or a deal with the dictator.”

He said the need of the hour was for the political parties to get together and fight for the common cause — a cause for which the lawyers, the civil society and the entire media were struggling.

When asked why did he never have good relations with any of his army chiefs, he said it was because they were trying to become super prime ministers.

He recalled that when the Quaid-i-Azam ordered General Gracy to launch an operation in Kashmir he refused, and then Mr Sharif traced the history of relations between the successive army chiefs and the democratically elected chief executives, including what he called the defiant attitude of his own army chiefs.

“When the army chiefs step out of their domain and meddle into politics that is when conflict arises,” he said.

He said: “This may be an impression about me because I have always felt it is none of the business of the army generals to issue policy statements, and give public statements on government policies and take a stand contrary to the policy of the government. This is what had happened frequently and I can quote a number of examples.”

Mr Sharif then went on to relate how, according to him, Gen Musharraf stabbed him in the back when he launched the Kargil operation at a time when the Indian prime minister was on a state visit to Pakistan. “He subverted the normalisation process. He derailed the process.”

He said being the elected prime minister of his country he had the duty to protect the Constitution and the Constitution did not allow the army chief to meddle in politics. “I could not have allowed army chiefs to become super prime ministers. That was not possible.”

When it was pointed out that there was a general impression that he himself was a product of the army, he said as chance would have it, he came into politics at a time when there was military rule in the country. “This does not mean that I had accepted army’s predominance or their right to intervene into politics. I was elected by my constituency and then the provincial assembly elected me as the chief minister of Punjab.”

He said he was the first man in the history of Pakistan to have reversed the amendments of a military ruler. “The 8th amendment was reversed by my government. And I brought the 13th and 14th amendments into the Constitution. So, I think my government deserves some credit for reversing amendments of a military dictator.”

He said Musharraf had mishandled the situation in the tribal region and said he had taken action against the tribes at the behest of his foreign friends and without applying his own mind. “His policies in the tribal area have no public support or backing,” he added.

He said Gen Musharraf was using the threat of terrorism because of his own personal requirements.

He said relations with Afghanistan had deteriorated again because Gen Musharraf had been handling these relations with off-the-cuff policies and without consulting the parliament.

Answering a question, he insisted that before Musharraf there was no madressah problem. “It was created by him. Madressahs have always remained as peaceful as other normal schools and colleges.”

He reiterated his earlier allegations that the MQM was a terrorist organisation and that it was fully involved in the May 12 carnage in Karachi, implying that they did what they did at the behest of Gen Musharraf.

He said he would like to pick up the threads of his liberal, open market economic policy if the nation gave him another chance to rule.

“I was the one who introduced market economy in the country. Even the Indians were stunned and wanted to study my economic policies of early 1990s,” he added proudly.