LAHORE, Oct 2: Former president Gen (retired) Pervez Musharraf had only consulted his most-trusted aides “Tariq Aziz and Lt-Gen (retired) Hamid Javed and company” while approving the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) as a part of his deal with the late Benazir Bhutto, say former allies of the former army chief.

“Musharraf did not even bother to take all of us on board regarding his plans to strike a deal with the BB. It is not true that Musharraf had consulted his political allies to finalise the deal with the Pakistan Peoples’ Party’s then chairperson. He would rather give ‘little importance’ to his political allies,” Aftab Ahmed Sherpao, the chief of his own faction PPP (Shepao), told Dawn on Saturday.

“It was Tariq Aziz, a former adviser of the National Security Council, and company whom Musharraf trusted the most,” he said.

Pervez Musharraf had told a gathering in London while launching his political party ‘All Pakistan Muslim League’ on Friday that he had committed mistake by approving the NRO. “My allies had permitted me to do so,” he revealed.

Sherpao who held different portfolios, including interior minister in the Musharraf regime, further said Musharraf primarily wanted to “secure his president office” even though he had to align with the PPP and Awami National Party (ANP) after the elections Sherpao, who formed his own faction after developing differences with Ms Bhutto in 1990s, said Musharraf continued to “deceive” his political allies till last moment by saying that the BB would not come to Pakistan (before the general elections).PML (like minded group) president Salim Saifullah told Dawn that he had opposed the grant of NRO when Musharraf consulted him. “I had even opposed Musharraf’s Nov 3 and May 12 actions. Even a person having a little political vision could not have gone for such steps,” he said.

Saifullah, who remained a minister in the Musharraf regime, further said that Musharraf had a very “limited circle” whom he banked for advice. “Tariq Aziz and Lt-Gen (retired) Hamid Javed were his trusted fellows and they had a final say in his decisions,” he said.

Lt-Gen Hamid Javed who

remained chief of staff to Gen Musharraf for six years (2001-07) was considered to be the real brain behind Musharraf for handling the affairs of his government.

Salim Saifullah however said that he had heard that Chaudhys of Gujrat, Hamid Nasir Chatha and Farooq Leghari had endorsed “granting NRO” to BB.

He said Musharraf had contacted him recently to join his party but he refused.

Another PML leader Humayun Akhtar said apart from his close circle Musharraf would only consult Chaudhry Shujaat and Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi from the PML-Q. “On NRO the Chaudhrys were consulted,” he added.

Pervaiz Elahi could not be contacted for his comment.