Saudi Arabia should not be dragged into politics: Nawaz

Without naming any particular political party or group, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz Quaid Mohammad Nawaz Sharif on Wednesday suggested that Saudi Arabia should not be dragged into Pakistan's politics. Responding to queries of media men about the visit of former President Pervez Musharraf to Saudi Arabia, Nawaz replied, "I am not aware for which purpose Musharraf had gone to Jeddah."
Nawaz was addressing a Iftar reception, organised in honour of journalists here. He said the country's economy has again been handed over to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the government was forced to raise petroleum products' prices and electricity tariff under the IMF pressure. Nawaz said the country is facing serious crisis and demands an early attention of the government to overcome the crisis through setting up a commission.
He said the existing problems are so complicated that these will not finish merely with the change of the governments. He made it clear that neither PML-N has demanded mid-term polls nor change of the federal government. The PMLN has not demanded mid-term elections when the governor's rule was imposed in Punjab, he said, adding: "The PML-N would not be part of any undemocratic move."
"We respect their (PPP) mandate. What we want is smooth sailing of the country's affairs in accordance with the Constitution." Nawaz said he had no personal vendetta against Pervez Musharraf. However, he said Musharraf violated the Constitution and he must be held accountable for it. He lamented that the Article 6 of the Constitution is being used as a protection.
According to Nawaz, the countrymen should not suffer out of any understanding with a dictator. "We are being told that Musharraf's trial is not doable but we believe that the trial of Musharraf is mandatory to secure the country's future. He called for cancellation of the constitutional amendments introduced during the dictatorial regime.
He said the 17th Constitutional Amendment be abrogated first of all, followed by negotiations on the rest of the issues. The setting up of a committee to repeal the controversial amendment would create a plethora of problems, he said and added that the constitutional reform package would be welcomed after annulment of the 17th Amendment.
Nawaz said the Charter of Democracy (CoD) has merely become a piece of paper. The CoD provides solution to present crisis and we are still determined for the implementation of this charter, he added. The PML-N leader said that some other institutions are holding the responsibilities of the parliament. Let's come sit together for the implementation of CoD, he said.
About the appointments of judges, Nawaz said there must not be intervention from any corner except public and judiciary in the judges' appointment. Answering a question about the smear campaign going on for the last one week, he said, "It will not be beneficial to anybody."
Nawaz said had Asif Ali Zardari implemented Murree Declaration, everybody would be satisfied and his popularity must have also increased. Nawaz also praised Punjab Chief Minister Mian Shahbaz Sharif saying: "It was his efforts that 20-kg flour bag is available at Rs 200/. He said PML-N feels proud of the performance of Shahbaz Sharif.