LONDON, May 9: Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif said on Wednesday he and PPP leader Benazir Bhutto had ruled out any deal with President Gen Pervez Musharraf. Mr Shraif, who has long said he plans to return to Pakistan, said current events in the country might speed his homecoming.

“I have every intention of going back to Pakistan before the elections. A lot of unforeseen developments are now taking place in Pakistan...but I might have to go fairly soon.. it could be weeks,” he said.

“A deal is not on our cards. We did discuss it and she (Ms Bhutto) said to me she will not enter into any deal with Musharraf,” Mr Sharif told Reuters in an interview.

“Any deal with Musharraf at this time by me or Benazir Bhutto or anyone will not bail Musharraf out at this stage. The people wouldn’t like it. They think

it is Musharraf who is responsible for the present crisis,” he added.

The Pakistan Muslim League leader, who spends much of his time in exile in London, said he was heartened to see the public turning out in support of

Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry and hoped western leaders would take their cue from the growing public outcry.

“If the people are coming out on the streets we should be very happy about it. At least there is now an awareness among the people of how important democracy is in Pakistan,” he said.

“The West cannot sit as a silent spectator while Musharraf is destroying the institutions of the country. Pakistan needs to send a very clear message to the international community today that enough is enough – don’t support a military dictator who has no respect for the Constitution.”—Reuters