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Journalism of Courage
Deposed Pakistan prime minister Nawaz Sharif has disclosed, in an exclusive interview with the BBC Urdu Service, that he was offered a deal to contest the upcoming general elections by President General Pervez Musharraf, but he turned it down. He, however, refused to go into the details.
The former premier, who went into exile in Saudi Arabia two years ago, said he would continue his fight against what he called the dictatorship of Musharraf.
He alleged that Musharraf sent Majid Nizami, a newspaper owner close to the Sharif family, with a specific proposal for political rapprochement.
Appearing defiant and emotional, Sharif said, that as prime minister he had administered the oath of office to Musharraf when he became the army commander under which he promised to uphold the Constitution and serve the government of the day and not get involved in politics.
‘‘Musharraf had betrayed his oath and the people of Pakistan won’t forget it,’’ Sharif said, and made it clear that he could not even think about a deal with him. He said he now regretted appointing him Army chief, promoting him over three senior generals.
The former premier branded next week’s general elections as ‘‘farcical’’, adding. Sharif, to show his solidarity with his former rival Benazir Bhutto after the election authorities also rejected her candidacy, said it was now time for the Pakistan Peoples’ Party and other democracy-loving people to join hands against dictatorial rule.
He refused to allow his voice to be recorded, saying he had to consider his Saudi hosts.‘‘I do not want to embarrass my hosts.’’
