Musharraf wanted a secret deal in 2007: Nawaz Sharif

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Tuesday said that former president Pervez Musharraf offered him a secret deal in 2007, which he turned down at that time.

The PM was addressing a Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) parliamentary leaders’ session. He said that the ex-military ruler sent an indirect message that he is interested in solving issues.

The premier said that he doesn’t believe in clandestine deals. He said that he was made to leave Pakistan during bad times and wasn’t allowed to come back too.

“Now Musharraf can’t come back to Pakistan, this is retribution,” he added.

During the meeting, matters pertaining to the political situation, development projects, and parliamentary affairs were discussed.

The PM said that the current tenure is tricky, although all the challenges were accepted.

Senators also demanded development funds in the session. Finance Minister Ishaq Dar and Minister for Petroleum Shahid Khaqan Abbasi also gave a briefing.

He said that some people are politically immature. “They are not stopping us but the country from progressing,” he said.

Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, in the session, said that production of electricity will start soon from Neelum-Jhelum and other projects.

Senior journalist and host of 'Capital Talk',  Hamid Mir spoke to Geo News on the subject. He said that he would avoid using the word ‘deal’ as Musharraf did try to ‘meet’ Nawaz around that time.

Mir said that in 2006, instead Nawaz Sharif and late Benazir Bhutto signed Charter of Democracy, following which Musharraf wanted to contact at least one of them.

He said that the former military leader could not meet Nawaz at that time. Had that happened, there would have been no National Reconciliation Ordinance.

APP adds: Prime Minister said that Pakistan's economy has witnessed a positive turnaround and is fast growing in the face of numerous challenges inherited by his government in 2013. He said speedy work was underway on various projects under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), which once completed, would immensely benefit the country in particular and the region in general.

"Pakistan of 2017 is very different from that of 2013," he said, adding that his government initiated megaenergy and infrastructure projects to address the issue of power shortages and increase connectivity in Pakistan.

"Our government has overcome the issue of power shortage 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," a press release of the PM Office media wing quoted him as saying.

The independent and credible financial institutions of the world, he said, recognised that Pakistan's economy was stabilising and on the right path of growth.

The prime minister said, "We have ensured complete transparency in the execution of the projects and have never compromised on principles.”

The dividends and benefits of those projects would reach to all parts and people of Pakistan, he added.

The prime minister said the overall law and order situation of the country, especially in Karachi and Balochistan, had greatly improved under his government which paid special attention to the development of Balochistan.

Finance Minister Ishaq Dar briefed the meeting on financial stability and economic growth achieved by the government during the last four years.

Minister for Railways Khawaja Saad Rafiq highlighted the projects and performance of Pakistan Railways while citing data, which demonstrated a great increase in resources, profit, and freight and passengers business since 2013.

Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources Shahid Khaqan Abbasi gave a briefing on energy projects while Minister for Water & Power Khawaja Asif informed the participants on the achievements of his ministry during the last four years.

Secretary to the Prime Minister Fawad Hasan Fawad briefed the participants on Sustainable Development Goals.