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Lebanese PM thinks bailing Sharif family out after Musharraf coup was a 'big mistake': info minister
Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry on Monday made the revelation that Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri, in his meeting with Prime Minister Imran Khan, had regretted securing the release of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, who had been jailed on hijacking and terrorism charges after the military coup of 1999.
Prime Minister Khan had met Hariri — who according to Chaudhry "helped Nawaz Sharif get an NRO (National Reconciliation Ordinance) from [former president] Pervez Musharraf" — on the sidelines of the World Government Summit in Dubai on Sunday.
Taking to Twitter, Chaudhry claimed that Khan during his conversation with Hariri told the Lebanese prime minister that word is going around in Pakistan about "another NRO[-like deal] for Nawaz Sharif".
Sharif's second term as prime minister had ended as a result of the then army chief Pervez Musharraf's coup in October 1999 and he was tried, convicted and sentenced to life in prison in a hijacking case.
However, under an agreement with the Saudi royal family, for which Hariri stood as one of the guarantors, Sharif was released from jail in 2000, after which the former prime minister along with his family was sent to live in exile in Saudi Arabia as a guest of the royal family.
In response to Prime Minister Khan's disclosure, according to Chaudhry, Hariri "raised both his hands to say it was a big mistake to have the Sharif family pardoned".
The Lebanese premier said this was because the Sharifs "did not fulfil even one commitment and I [Hariri] had to face severe embarrassment", the information minister claimed.
The minister's claims could not be independently verified by Dawn.com.
When Sharif had decided to return to Pakistan from exile in 2007, Hariri and then Saudi chief of intelligence Prince Muqrin bin Abdul Aziz at a press conference in Rawalpindi had urged Sharif not to return to Pakistan and abide by his agreement with King Abdullah which they said bound him to stay out of Pakistan for 10 years.
But Sharif had claimed that he was verbally assured by the intermediaries of the agreement, especially Hariri, that the exile condition would apply for only five years, and proceeded to return to Pakistan.
Hours after arriving in Islamabad on September 10, 2007, however, Sharif was deported to Jeddah. He eventually returned to Pakistan again later that year.
Comments (86) Closed
blunt..
Fawad Chaudhary is a habitual lier
what the business does Lebanese prime minister have to talk about Pakistan's internal politics?
Sharif's have always liked, even good buddy Zardari has accused the Sharif brothers of being big liars.
Honest and shockingly candid commentary by ever fearless Chaudhry! Bravo... Guts... Integrity...
Gordon D. Walker
Canada
In fact, Saad al-Hariri wasn't even in politics in 2000. His father rafeeq alhariri was the facilitator at that time. After his father death, Saad al-Hariri took over his father legacy in politics. Information haven't even basic information about that. And the irony is that you people are reporting such thing without any mere research.
Yes, NRO was a mother of all mistakes. Rulers criminality should never be pardoned.
NAwaz Shrief and his family are nothing but thugs and a disgraced internationally. People and politicians who support him are just like NAwaz as corrupt and dishonest.
Every patriotic Pakistani would like to see Shatiffs are punished for his crimes.
What was NRO ? Musharraf Illegal govt jailed them ? I think these people should get off the container- tabdeeli is here - where is the delivery
Who is he...
Musharrafs only mistake was to let these people off the hook - Shariff and his family should have been dealt with so that would never return to politics ever again.
Fawad Chaudhry should shut up. What's the point in bringing that up?.. Just focus on squeezing the looted wealth out of him.
As a PTI supporter,
Fawad, please do your job and stop the smack talk regarding PPP and PML-N.
Backbiting doesn't constitute a story. Reporting this type of claims by information ministry is pathetic. If Mr. Harirey had any grievance with MNS he should have talked to him. Information minister is not appointed to convey personal messages.
What a shame PM is involving Pakistani friends in his dirty politics. If Hariri said something, some one can trust on that. But who will trust this U-Turn King who made a lie every day.
I remember Fawad Chaudhry was Musharraf spokesman, no wonder his language and hatred....
Saad Hariri wasn't active in 1999 it was his father Rafik Hariri who was then PM.
Do you really need to tell all the things you discussed? Who really trust you??
The Lebanese guy never expected this to be inloud speaker by Fawad... great leader
Wonder what pmln supporters got to say about this. A disgrace to pakistan and a disgrace abroad.
As a Pakistani citizen I strongly object to this article /statement published here. Why are the PM and Information Minister discussing our internal legal matters abroad, with foreigners? Whether Nawaz Sharif is guilty or not only a Pakistani court can decide and the matter is sub judice. The courts should take notice and take action for contempt of proceedings against the PM and Information Minister.
Not surprised with Hariri’s comments. Sharif’s and Zardari’s are untrustworthy and only interested in looting poor Pakistanis. On the other hand PM Khan is serving the country and NOT his own pocket by looting the poor. World leaders can see the honest and crismatic leader IK is this trusted. Proud of IK’s stature in the world unlike corrupt PPP and PML-N leaders.
Mr. Hariri made contradicotry statement while on Saudi soil, first, he resigned and praised S. Arabia, then mysteriously he came back to his country. He never explained his imprisonment by the Crown Prince. it is rumored that he was imprisoned because of his personal debts to the crown. Is he a reliable person?
In 2000, when the Sharifs were exciled by General Musharraf, Rafic Hariri, Saad's father, was the prime minister of Lebanon. Saad Hariri had not joined politics then and had no role, whatsoever, in negotiating the excile deal with the Saudis.
The Information Minister is trying to be too smart.
Very true, it seems like the global world of governments is taking Pakistan more seriously, this is probably because they know that its not runs by the corrupt and incompetent like Zardari and Sharif.
Gordon P Walker
Canada
Similar to letting Musharaff to leave. At least Nawaz Sheriff has guts to face the courts, unlike the commondo.
Shame on FC and team who defame Pakistan. Instead of discussing topic that will benefit people of both countries stupids are discussing internal political matters
Who is on right path that will be decided by whom ? Is really a big question when history repeats itself then one can't help as one has to reap what one sows it s principle of all religions aswell as of all regions in world.
This supposed statement is coming from a guy that was kidnapped from the Saudis and made to resign as PM over a forced TV speech in Riyadh. IK is making a mockery of everything.
Who can trust Sharif? Not even his own brother or nephews.
You don't talk about Internal matters of your country with foreign dignitaries. Imran Khan is touching another low.
Fawad ch. and others ministers need to shut their mouths and they need some lectures on psychology of masses. They are real enemies of Imran Khan as they create sympathy for Sharifs by repeating the same stupidity everyday specially when he is sick and the family is mum. I am a die heart supporter of PTI but I would have liked Imran Khan to tell this Hariri guy that you are too small to talk like this about an ex prime minister of Pakistan, regardless of what he did right or wrong for his country. Just don’t let a puppets like Hariri to dishounor any of our state leaders.
"...I had to face sever embarrassment." Just consider how important this is. Thousands of times more damage Nawaz Sharif did to this country than financial, was destroying the moral and ethical fabric of the country. The sad situation, where aspiration to be an honourable person, isn't even considered, let alone admired.
Who was the Lebanese Prime Minister in 1999?
A bunch of crooks entangled with other crooks.
Everything coming from Mr. Fawad is lie!
Conviction by the Military Dictator was illegal to begin with.
The important info missing here is what was the purpose of keeping him out from Pakistan’s Stan for ten years or at least five years. Certain agenda Musharraf was working on for which Nawaz Sharif was seen as a hurdle?
"But Sharif had claimed that he was verbally assured by the intermediaries of the agreement" - I wonder if they were also winking at the time
One other graceful and intelligent Muslim leader. It is very satisfying and encouraging to see the rapport of Imran Khan with all the Muslim leaders he has met.
If that was the case Why did Saudis gave $3 Billion on his return to Power?
The same Saudi government put you in house arrest and had to be rescued by the west.
And you people had to hear this from a foreign PM? What a slap in the face of stupid people who still follow crooks like Sharifs and Zardaris and Bhuttos!
Wow, why is imran so scared of nawaz? What did he think the Lebanese pm going to say to a sitting Pakistani pm? I guess Imran is worried that nawaz will get out of jail and defeat him in the next election. What he should be really worried about is nawaz dieing in prison due to illness. Then imran will be in real trouble.
Typical character of which Pakistanis are ashamed of and ridiculed abroad. They are the cause people abroad think Pakistanis have no integrity. Sad..
The truth lies somewhere in between., though the fact remains, Americans sent their girl (BB) to Pakistan, Saudis demanded that their boy (MNS) should too return to Pakistan.
Why couldn't hariri speak for himself.
The PTI certainly never misses a chance to make fools of themselves.
Saad Hariri should speak for himself, and not someone else creating stories. Saad Hariri was kept in Saudi Arab last year when whole world was searching for him; Nawaz was allowed to live in Saudi Arab for years when Musharraf took over. Hence, without Saudi approval nothing can happen. And Saudis were fine with Sharifs.
@Awais Mufti, the same business he and others like him had bailing out beloved nawaz
@Awais Mufti, Very true. You made a good point.
@Awais Mufti, If the information here has any truth to it, than I suppose the Lebanese Premier has every right to talk about it since he was one of the guarantors in the release of Nawaz Sharif
NS and BB both invited Foreign intermediaries in Pakistan politics and betrayed both Pakistan and their Foreign well wishers
@Arcana, it is noy personal message but a candid way to shame nawaz and reveal their true face..
IK went to discuss Sharif Family with his counterpart?
Yes, definitely, it was a big mistake to give NRO to Nawaz Sharif during Pervaz Musharaf's tenure. Because, leopard doesn't change its spots and Sharif family follow this example and didn't learn from their past mistakes, corrupt practices and now facing the music in jails.
Now this is not interference in our internal affairs??
Will PTI ever get over Nawaz Sharif? Their obsession with him is mind boggling
IK and Lebanese PM both had sooooo much time that they discussed IK's Favorite topic whining about the opposition nothing constructive to discuss........................Stop doing that on a visit paid by taxes taken from the POOR
@Daskalos, To accept the truth is not shameful it actually enhances the dignity of the nation.The World knows much better than Pakistan the evil deeds of Nawaz - Shahbaz - Zardari families and have made documentaries on them regarding their crimes and ill gotten wealth. Pakistan is on grey list of FATF because of their misdeeds and misrule.The Courts should make these documentaries as evidence against them and award stringent punishments to these most influential corrupt former political rulers.
Minister is lying as no PM will say anything like it in official talk.
@Awais Mufti, They meddled into Pakistan politics when Sharif was sent to jail by Musharraf, if you were not a child at that time to remember.
But Saad Hariri wasn't even the PM then! It was Rafiq Hariri who was the president and Saad was just a 25 year old boy at that time.
What a shame! In one statement a government representative justified the military coup, foreign interference, degraded the office of the prime minister of Pakistan as someone who had to be bailed out by a foreigner and was expected to provide favours later on... All that just for political convenience.
It is very unprofessional to leak information of a personal talk between two leaders. What if PM Hariri comes out and negate the claim? Hope they learnt from past miscommunications with American dignitaries, where American Foreign office negated the claims made by Ministers.
nothing new nawaz and co are rotten to the core
NRO is reality. We all know. These Sharifs and Zardari can't tolerate to spend time in jail. I will not be surprised for another NRO. It will be big failure of PTI government if they do NRO
NS is in jail, we have spent more on getting him convicted then we could get from him. gov needs to move on instead on keep on gossiping on the same issue.
@Jalil Yousaf, "Certain agenda Musharraf was working on for which Nawaz Sharif was seen as a hurdle?" Nawaz a hurdle??? He was busy buying properties in London, what in the world he could have been a hurdle for?
Is the same Lebanese PM who was shaken down by MBS recently?
I regret the days Bhuttos and Sharifs were groomed to rule Pakistan. The first one oversaw the dismemberment and the de-industrialization of Pakistan and the latter oversaw massive corruption which eroded the economic prosperity of the nation.
Focus of Sharif's real crime, not his promises and guarantees with Saudis and othe leaders. That is just a smoke.
Who is right and who is wrong, only time will tell and confirm.
@Awais Mufti, Your question a valid and Sharif family should answer it.
Another proof this Sharif family is completely shameless !!!!
In Politics everything revolves around power, tomorrow the same will be said about I.K. if he loses power.
@Samiullah Khatir, Dir Lower , Fawad is telling truth. Nawaz,his family & his supporters do not to hear the truth.
@Awais Mufti, Nawaz Sharif took the initiative to involve foreign governments when he was in trouble due to his unconstitutional illegal acts during his previous tenure. This is simply a reflection of the past.
That's what Fawad Choudhry say. But what Mr.Hariri told the PM, only the both of them know.
Lebanon depends on donations from France &from other Europeans countries &were kept hostage by MBS in Saudia. And lied for two months about his fate there. Has nothing to invest in Pakistan.
Everyone knows it was a big mistake. Most people knew before the mistake was made. Rest is history.
Even if Hariri told this to IK, I doubt if the Lebanese leader meant this to be made public. He must have said this as a private conversation.
@Nusrat, do your research properly bro. https://www.dawn.com/news/265268/saudi-prince-saad-hariri-urge-nawaz-to-keep-his-promise
@Gordon D. Walker, When you are in power, you can do any things because State machinery is in your hands. Fawad is just a political "passing the parcel"
Information minister sharing inside info., is he fit for job?