Former premier Nawaz Sharif has accused President Pervez Musharraf of trying to "drive a wedge" between his PML-N and the PPP in a bid to thwart the formation of a coalition government by the two parties.
Nawaz Sharif, who was deposed in a coup by Musharraf in 1999, said the PML-N and the PPP had come together after the February 18 general elections to form government despite not having a pre-poll alliance, Press Trust Of India (PTI) quoted Sharif as saying.
The PML-N will support the PPP-led government to complete its full five-year term as the two parties shared common objectives like the restoration of the judiciary and ending the military's role in politics, he said.
"It is Musharraf, that has been ruling this country for the past eight years wearing a uniform, and I think he is trying to drive a wedge between the two of us (PML-N and PPP)," Sharif told interviewer Karan Thapar on the "Devil's Advocate" programme.
"And he (Musharraf) is again trying his formula of divide and rule. We are not going to fall prey (to that)," he said. "We would rather like to see a full five-year term for the PPP. We will not destabilise the government at all," Nawaz added.
The PPP, which emerged the largest party in the polls, is set to form government at the centre with the support of the PML-N and other smaller parties like the Awami National Party, he said.
Nawaz said the alliance between his party and the PPP was aimed at putting "the country back on the rails". Asked if the two parties had sunk the differences, he said, "Yes, I suppose so." He pointed out that he and slain PPP Chairperson Benazir Bhutto had signed a Charter of Democracy in 2006 that outlined their common objectives.
The former premier, who had once said he felt betrayed by Bhutto when she held talks on a power-sharing arrangement with Musharraf, said: "Despite these ups and downs, I think we have stuck to the charter."
Nawaz Sharif repeated his call for Musharraf to quit, saying the President "is the real problem". He said: "He has to step down because this is a very clear verdict from the people of Pakistan. It is a verdict from every nook and corner of the country. It says, 'Musharraf, please step down'."
Asked what would be the military's role in the new dispensation, he said: "The military has its own job to do. I don't want the military to come into politics. Let's not talk about the military because I want the military to stay within their domain."
If Musharraf did not step down, the new government would have to take steps to curb his powers. "(Musharraf) has...the powers to even sack the parliament, the cabinet and the prime minister. Don't you think that these powers need to be taken away from him on the first day when we have the majority?" Sharif said.
"I think the restoration of the judiciary must take place on the first day. This is what I would do if I have the choice bu, of course, we have an alliance. We have already agreed upon the restoration of the judges, their reinstatement. But the modalities will have to be worked out in the parliament," he added.
After the judges deposed during last year's emergency are reinstated, they "will determine whether Musharraf is eligible to contest the elections of the president while wearing a uniform or not."
The post-emergency Supreme Court comprising hand-picked judges had validated Musharraf's re-election in uniform last year. "And once we get rid of this president who is still a dictator and who still holds all the powers, I think most of our problems will get resolved automatically," said Nawaz.
He also said the PML-N was yet to decide on joining the PPP-led government. "We haven't taken any decision on that as yet...If we join the government, our people will have to take oath from the President. And we don't consider this President as a legitimate President," he added.