Musharraf wanted secret deal in 2007 but I refused: Nawaz

Says ex-president can’t get back home now; it’s divine retribution for his actions; announces action plan to contest 2018 polls; says will be undertaking whirlwind visits of all provinces

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif said on Tuesday the-then military ruler President General Pervez Musharraf wanted to strike a deal with him in 2007 but he declined.

He was addressing a full-house interactive meeting of the PML-N Parliamentary Group of the two houses at the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) here.

Nawaz said he didn’t believe in making clandestine deals with the people who had ruined the aspirations of the masses. The prime minister said he never intended to leave the country after the military coup but was trapped in a situation where he had to leave.

He said had Musharraf not toppled the PML-N government in 1999, Pakistan would have been among the most advanced nations of Asia today.“Musharraf can’t get back even if he has plans; it’s divine retribution for his actions,” he added.

Unfazed by the ensuing Panama verdict, Nawaz announced an action plan for his ruling Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) to contest the 2018 election.“Now you will not find me sitting and confined to the four walls of the office but mingling up with the masses in the field, hugging and talking with them candidly, as I will be undertaking whirlwind visits of all the provinces,” he said.

The members of the legislatures expressed unflinching confidence in the leadership of Nawaz Sharif and reminded him that the masses had pinned their hopes on his leadership.Nawaz vowed that the PML-N would fulfill all the commitments made by it in the 2013 election manifesto and contest the polls with its splendid record of service in 2018.

He was in an upbeat disposition and made it clear that he didn’t believe in victimisation but nature does play its role by reacting to the actions and misdeeds.Nawaz reminded that he had inked the Charter of Democracy (COD) with the PPP but it broke the deal and signed the NRO with Pervez Musharraf.

“I believe in politics of principles and values. I am not in politics for the sake of politics,” he added.He also regretted that the sit-ins impacted the development and work done by his government.

“We would have completely wiped out loadshedding today if sit-ins had not been staged,” he said without taking the name of Imran Khan.He reminded that the time when negative politics was accepted by the people had lapsed.

“Now is the time to serve the country and its people. Pakistan’s economy has witnessed a positive turnaround and is fast growing in the face of numerous challenges inherited by the PML-N government in 2013,” he said.

Nawaz 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.

“The Pakistan of 2017 is very different from that of 2013,” he said while chairing a parliamentary party meeting of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) here.Nawaz said his government had initiated mega energy and infrastructure projects to address the issue of power shortages and increased connectivity in Pakistan.

“Our government has overcome the issue of power shortages to a great extent and loadshedding 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, had recognized that Pakistan’s economy was stabilizing and on the right path of growth.The prime minister said, “We have ensured complete transparency in the execution of projects and never compromised on principles.” The dividends and benefits of those projects would reach all parts and people of Pakistan, he added.

Nawaz 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.He asked his party members to work hard for alleviating the problems of the people of their respective constituencies.

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 manifold 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 about 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 (SDG).