ATTOCK, Sept 28: The memories of incarceration in Attock Fort still haunt Nawaz Sharif the chief of his own faction of Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N).

Nawaz Sharif was detained in the fort by the military regime along with his son Hussian Nawaz and brother Shehbaz Shairf soon after toppling his government in 1999.

Talking to local mediaperson here on Thursday after offering condolences to PML-N MNA Sheikh Aftab Ahmed over his sister’s demise, Nawaz Shairf said he preferred jail to bowing to the military dictator Gen Pervez Musharraf.

It was very tough and crucial time for him and his family, he recalled.

He said at that time after the Allah Almighty, the party leaders and media were the only source of making his point of view public and sharing the regime’s highhandedness.

He said he was particularly thankful to Sheikh Aftab Ahmed as he stood by his family during this crucial phase.

Turning to Balochistan, he said now its leaders were being meted out same treatment.

Before coming to Attock, he said, he met Baloch leader Sardar Akhtar Mengal in Islamabaddiscuss the Baluchistan issue.  “Obviously,  the Baloch leadership is passing through difficult, adding it was high time to rectify the wrong done to them, he said.

The matters of Balochistan should be taken up seriously by realisng the facts and ground realities, otherwise, the prevailing situation in Balochistan would be proved dangerous for the country, he feared.

Replying to a question, he said President Zardari government should be neutral  in holding fair and free elections in the country.

Earlier, Nawaz Shairf and Begum Kalsoom Nawaz arrived at the residence of  PML-N MNA Aftab Sheikh amid strict security to offer condolences over the demise of his sister.