Nawaz rejects any ‘secret deal’ with Musharraf in 2007

• PM says former military ruler made a failed attempt to strike a deal with him; ‘Sharif family had to go abroad due to military’s pressure in 2001’

Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif on Tuesday said that former military ruler Pervez Musharraf made a failed effort to strike a deal with him in year 2007 soon after a ‘deal’ with former Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) chairperson Benazir Bhutto, saying he (Nawaz) had declined the offer.

The revelation was made by the prime minister while chairing the meeting of the parliamentary party of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) here. Interestingly, while Nawaz blasted Musharraf for offering him a deal, coincidently, PPP spokesman Farhatullah Babar also came down hard over the military establishment for failing to trace Osama bin Laden the same day.

“Musharraf sent an indirect message to me with an offer for a secret deal. However, I refused the offer as I don’t believe in underhand deals,” a ruling party lawmaker told Pakistan Today, quoting the prime minister as saying during the party’s top meeting. Musharraf had offered the deal to Nawaz Sharif after a secret deal he had earlier struck with Benazir Bhutto, also a two-time former prime minister, the source said.

Following Benazir Bhutto’s arrival in Pakistan, Musharraf made an effort to woo back Nawaz Sharif too, perhaps in a bid to provide equal opportunity to both Nawaz and Benazir, but the PML-N leader declined. Following the failed talks, Nawaz had made a failed attempt to return to Pakistan in September 2007 but was arrested and deported to Saudi Arabia within hours of arriving at the Islamabad airport.

The airport episode was a major blow to Nawaz Sharif’s campaign to oust then president Pervez Musharraf, who deposed the PML-N government in a 1999 coup and sent the prime minister into exile one year later. The source, who requested his identity may be kept anonymous, quoted Nawaz as telling his party members that the Sharif family did not want to be exiled in year 2001 but had to go abroad due to the military’s pressure.

“We did not want to leave Pakistan but were sent on gun point. We wanted to make a return in 2007 but I was forcibly sent back. Now Musharraf can’t come to Pakistan. This is called ‘whatever you would sow, you shall reap’,” the source quoted the prime minister as telling his party leaders.

He also took a jibe at Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan, saying some people with little understanding of politics want to disturb the development process in Pakistan. “They are not stopping me, they are stopping development of Pakistani nation,” he was quoted as saying. He said that when he took over as the prime minister, there was nothing left in the exchequer and remittances were only four billion dollars a year.

He said that times have changed when negative tactics used to succeed and derailment of democratic process was order of the day. He also urged the party’s lawmakers to start preparation for the next elections. The source said that senators of the ruling party demanded that they should also be given development funds and the prime minister promised to look into the matter.

An official handout however did not carry these details. “The prime minister stated that Pakistan’s economy witnessed a positive turnaround and is fast growing in the face of numerous challenges inherited by his government in 2013. He said that speedy work is underway on various projects under the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), which once completed would immensely benefit Pakistan in particular and the region in general,” the statement said.

Nawaz said that his government initiated mega energy and infrastructure projects to address the issue of power shortages and increase connectivity in Pakistan. “Our government has overcome the issue of power shortages to a great extent and load shedding will be part of history by the year 2018. We are massively investing in motorways, highways and other infrastructure projects as well. The overall law and order situation; especially the situation in Karachi and Balochistan have greatly improved during our government. Pakistan of 2017 is very different from that of 2013,” he said.

The prime minister said that the government has paid special attention to the development of Balochistan. He said that the independent and credible financial institutions of the world have recognised that Pakistan’s economy is stabilizing and is on the right path of growth. “We have ensured complete transparency in the execution of the projects and have never compromised on principles. The dividends and benefits of these projects will reach to all parts and people of Pakistan,” he said.

He asked his party members to work hard for alleviating the problems of the people of their respective constituencies. Finance Minister Senator Ishaq Dar briefed the participants of the meeting on financial stability and economic growth achieved by the government during the last four years. Minister for Railways Khawaja Saad Rafiq briefed on the projects and performance of the Pakistan Railways while citing data which demonstrated manifold increase in resources, profits, freight and passengers business since 2013.

Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources Shahid Khaqan Abbasi gave a briefing on energy projects. Water & Power Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif briefed the participants on achievements of the Water & Power Ministry during the last four years. PM Secretary Fawad Hasan Fawad briefed the participants on the Sustainable Development Goals. The participants lauded the role of the prime minister in personally supervising development projects and reiterated the resolve to work together for the development of the country.