Musharraf luncheon for US president: Then CJP told Clinton in restroom Nawaz won’t get death penalty

PESHAWAR: Dr Naseem Ashraf, former chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and former head of the National Commission for Human Development, has narrated in his upcoming book that the US State Department had advised President Bill Clinton against visiting Pakistan.

However, President Clinton decided to visit Pakistan to prevent the execution of ousted prime minister Nawaz Sharif. The US president also held a secret meeting with the Chief Justice of Pakistan to get an assurance that Nawaz Sharif would not be hanged. He arrived in Pakistan for a few hours after receiving assurances from General Musharraf. Dr Naseem Ashraf expressed these thoughts in his book, “Ring Side,” which will be launched in Peshawar tomorrow, Tuesday, with additional launch events planned in various cities across Pakistan. The book is published in Urdu under the title “Maidan-e-Amal.”

Regarding President Clinton’s visit to Pakistan, he revealed that Clinton went to the restroom during a luncheon hosted by Musharraf. Moments later, Pakistan’s Chief Justice Irshad Hassan Khan also went to the restroom, where they spoke for five minutes. President Clinton asked the Chief Justice whether Nawaz Sharif would be sentenced to death, to which Justice Irshad Hassan assured him that it would not happen. This incident can be considered a significant and eye-opening historical event.

Dr Naseem Ashraf noted that Dr Musaddiq Malik, a member of Shahbaz Sharif’s cabinet, left a lucrative job in the US to return to Pakistan and work in human development, emphasising that he is a highly patriotic Pakistani.

He described Imran Khan’s 2019 visit to the US as successful, stating it strengthened Pakistan-US relations. Dr Naseem Ashraf recounted a meeting he had with Indian prime minister Manmohan Singh during General Musharraf’s visit to India, during which Singh confirmed that he had sent two tons of gold to the Bank of England to secure a loan, as he was not in favour of going to the IMF. From the loan obtained from the Bank of England, he initiated a new economic policy in India.

Dr Naseem Ashraf wrote about Imran Khan’s ex-wife, Jemima Khan, stating that she sacrificed everything for Pakistan and is a commendable humanitarian. He regards the National Commission for Human Development as one of his great achievements, noting its significant role in promoting education and alleviating poverty. However, as chairman, he faced numerous challenges, even contemplating resignation at one point. The programme’s success can be gauged by the fact that Tony Blair’s son, Nicholas Blair, came to Pakistan specifically for an internship.

On Pakistan-US relations, Dr Naseem Ashraf commented on several issues, asserting that the events of September 11 shook the US, which is why it targeted Afghanistan. Nonetheless, he acknowledged that President Musharraf assured President George W Bush of full cooperation, accepting five out of seven demands. Had Pakistan not complied, it would have faced economic ruin, detrimental to national security.

Dr Naseem clarified that Pakistanis living in the US are advocates of democracy and patriotic citizens who supported Pakistan during challenging times. This is why, when Nawaz Sharif was ousted, protests were held for his reinstatement, advertisements were placed in newspapers, and letters were written to members of Congress and the US President, which eventually led to President Clinton’s visit to Pakistan.

As chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board, Dr Naseem Ashraf included his memories in the book, sharing that Younis Khan had visited then-chairman Sheryar Khan, but due to a delayed meeting, he announced his resignation before an important tour. He expressed happiness that, at his request, Younis Khan agreed to lead the national team.

He also disclosed while Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif tested positive for doping, there was no proven wrongdoing on the players’ part, for which the cricket board made constructive efforts. He mentioned that, as chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board, he faced challenges head-on and is pleased that 19 stadiums were built across the country. Dr Naseem Ashraf addressed the boycott of the test match, noting that Inzamam-ul-Haq initially refused to play the Oval Test but later agreed due to General Musharraf’s intervention, however later the umpires declined.