LAHORE, Jan 27: Exiled former prime minister Mian Nawaz Sharif is arriving in London on Sunday, unrepentant of his decision to sack Gen Musharraf as the army chief and willing to pay any price in the future for his consistent stand on the constitution and a democratic system, his spokesman said here on Friday.

“If I recognize Gen Musharraf as president and endorse the Legal Framework Order and the 17th Amendment, I can come back to Pakistan by a special plane any time. An offer is pending with me. But I’ll not accept it in my lifetime,” Mr Sharif was quoted as saying.

Spokesman Zaeem Qadri addressed a news conference after receiving instructions from the PML-N leader, who was banished to Saudi Arabia in December, 2000.

“There must be someone who could stick to a principled stand on democracy, constitution and Pakistan and pay the price,” the former prime minister said, adding that he was prepared to face the consequences for his consistent standpoint.

Mr Sharif said deviation from a constitutional and democratic system had brought every problem to Pakistan. Provincial harmony and national unity were getting weaker by the day. Of the 58 years that the country had been in existence, generals remained in power for 30 years and politicians for 28.

He said in these 28 years many prime ministers were replaced. “The practice should now come to an end and all state institutions should work within the constitutional limits. The supremacy of parliament, composed of the genuinely elected representatives, must be acknowledged.”

Mr Sharif was of the view that all political and democratic forces should pledge not to support any extra-constitutional step. “There’s a need for unity against those toying with the constitution.”

He said he had never interfered in the affairs of the army, although as the country’s chief executive he was empowered to take steps to ensure the supremacy of the constitutional system.

The former prime minister said he was shocked when only one of the three services chiefs had supported his decision to carry out nuclear tests in May 1998, a step taken to prove Pakistan’s nuclear capability. However, he did not name the lone supporter or the two opponents.

Defending the decision of making Pakistan a nuclear power, he said it had enhanced the country’s image in the Ummat and thwarted India’s designs to establish its hegemony in the region. The tests had led to talks between the two nuclear powers and by signing the Lahore Declaration, India accepted Kashmir as a dispute.