ISLAMABAD: The will of the people will never be overruled again in the country, said Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Saturday.

He was referring to the October 12, 1999 coup, when the then army chief General (retd) Pervez Musharraf overthrew a democratically elected government.

The PM said that Pakistan’s future lies in democracy, adding that an elected parliament, independent judiciary and vibrant media is there to guard the freedom and liberties of the people.

“Insha Allah (God willing) we the chosen representatives of people, will strive hard to strengthen democracy, and to establish rule of law,” he added.

Former military ruler General (retd) Pervez Musharraf, through a military coup, overthrew Sharif’s government on October 12, 1999 and sent him into exile in Saudi Arabia.

With the government investigating to try him in treason charges, the former military strongman is currently under house arrest at his own farmhouse in Chak Shahzad.

The former president was seeking a bail in Lal Masjid operation case after being granted bail in three other cases including assassinations of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto and Baloch nationalist leader Nawab Akbar Bugti and detention of deposed Supreme Court judges.

Musharraf was forced out of office after trying and failing to fire the country's chief justice. The former president and head of the army went into exile in 2008 but returned earlier this year in an abortive attempt to launch a political career.