Exiled former Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has slammed the western countries for 'blindly' backing President Pervez Musharraf to stay in power.
ISLAMABAD: Exiled former Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has slammed the western countries for 'blindly' backing President Pervez Musharraf to stay in power.
"The West should clearly differentiate between a democratic rule and misrule because he (Musharraf) is the one who has brought Pakistan to the brink of collapse. I only want that the West should take note of what he's doing and withdraw support from a dictator," 'The News' reported here on Sunday, quoting Sharif as saying in London.
Claiming that the Pakistani people were "dismayed and disappointed" by American support to Musharraf, he said that it was time to oust the dictator from power and "all those who are trying to rescue him are doing no service to the country".
However, the deposed Premier reaffirmed his resolve to return home this month and said that he would not negotiate with Musharraf under any circumstances. "This dictator has his own personal agenda, which differs from the agenda of the country, and he's using Army to perpetuate his illegal rule."
Asked whether he would reconsider negotiating with Musharraf were he to be sent to prison upon his return home, Sharif replied, "Musharraf put me in jail for 14 months. I did not think of negotiating then, so why would I negotiate now, after seven long years, eight years, when the movement is heading for success?"
To a question regarding self-exiled former Premier Benazir Bhutto's negotiations with the military ruler, he said, "It is unfortunate that a few individuals are trying to decide the destiny of the nation according to what suits their political interests. Our struggle is not to seek power but to change the present system..."
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}