ISLAMABAD, Sept 14 President Asif Ali Zardari confirmed on Monday that the 'safe exit' of former president Gen (retd) Pervez Musharraf was the result of a 'deal' arranged by international powers with interests in South Asia. He didn't name the international players but said that they were 'guarantor'.

During an informal chat with a group of journalists at the Presidency, the president said the guarantors had decided that “Musharraf would play golf in his post-presidential life”.

Political analysts here believe that the present government was a party to the deal and the former president had left the country with its consent.

Gen Musharraf's statement that Pakistan Muslim League-N chief Nawaz Sharif had assured Saudi King Abdullah that he would not seek his trial for subverting the Constitution indicated that the international players had sought a guarantee from the government and the Pakistan People's Party that he would be protected.

President Zardari indicated that Gen (retd) Musharraf would live a peaceful and secure life.

It is believed that because of interventions by the governments of Saudi Arabia and the US, both the PPP-led government and Mr Sharif have softened their stance and there is a notable reduction in the harshness of PML-N's rhetoric against Gen Musharraf.

The PML-N has been accusing Gen Musharraf of distorting the Constitution and illegally imposing emergency on Nov 3, 2007, and seeking his trial for high treason.

Legal experts are of the opinion that a trial of Gen (retd) Musharraf would also involve a number of other people, including politicians, army generals and judges, who had supported his actions and they would also be in the dock.

A case has already been registered in a police station in Islamabad against the former president for detaining judges of superior courts and their families in their houses for several months during emergency.

The legal experts said the charges were too 'soft' and he would win the case if tried.

Some PPP leaders who have been accused of supporting Gen (retd) Musharraf have criticised the PML-N for not pursuing the case against him wholeheartedly.

“If PML-N is sincere about taking the former president to task why does Chaudhry Nisar Ahmed (Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly) not move a resolution against Musharraf in parliament,” PPP leader Nabeel Gabol asked.

Pakistan Muslim League-Q's secretary-general Mushahid Hussain Syed has also said that former president's departure was the result of a 'deal' between Gen Musharraf, the government and international players and, therefore, no action will be taken against him under Article 6 of the Constitution.