The West should not give "blind support" to President Pervez Musharraf and must distinguish between democracy and his "misrule", ex-Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif told AFP Saturday.
Speaking at the plush west London offices of his political party, the Pakistan Muslim League-N, Sharif added that he would never negotiate with the military leader who ousted him nearly eight years ago.
He said that the West "should clearly differentiate between a democratic rule and misrule because he (Musharraf) is the one who has brought Pakistan to the brink. I only want that the West should take note of what he's doing, and not provide blind support to a dictator."
"This dictator has his own personal agenda, which differs from the agenda of the country, and he's using the army to perpetuate his illegal rule," he said. He added that the Pakistani people were "dismayed and disappointed" by American support for Musharraf. Nawaz's opposition to Musharraf's rule contrasts with that of Benazir Bhutto. "We both committed to not having any negotiations or parleys with dictators," Nawaz said, referring to a deal the pair reached last October to return to their country to demand free and fair elections, which are due next year.
"Talking to Musharraf today means that we are strengthening the dictatorship in Pakistan, talking to Musharraf means that we don't want undiluted democracy in Pakistan," he said. "This is no service to democracy."
Asked whether he would consider negotiating with Musharraf, Nawaz replied: "Musharraf put me in jail for 14 months I didn't think of negotiating then, so why would I negotiate now, after seven long years, eight years, when the movement is heading for success?" "It's very clear in the constitution that the Army has its own specific role to play. If the Army confines itself to that role there would be no problem."
"The problems only arose when the Army stepped outside of its domain." He added that the issue of Musharraf one day facing trial over his "illegal rule" was one "which the people of Pakistan will have to decide."
Comments
Comments are closed.