Lahore: Former Pakistan premier Nawaz Sharif on Sunday renewed his demand for bringing former president Pervez Musharraf to trial for his actions during his nine-year rule and said the former ruler should be summoned to the Parliament to reveal agreements forged with the US in the war on terror.
Addressing a function at his estate at Raiwind on the outskirts of Lahore to mark the ouster of his government by Musharraf in a military coup in 1999, Sharif said that the former president should be summoned to Parliament to disclose details of agreements he had forged with the US for the war on terror.
While reiterating his demand for Musharraf to face trial for his actions, Sharif said that the former military ruler should also tell the nation how many so-called terrorists were handed over to Western countries during his regime.
Musharraf should be interrogated by the Parliament regarding the violation of the constitution and the oath he had taken as the army chief and he must be tried for his misdeeds, Sharif added.
Musharraf stepped down from the post of President in August to avoid impeachment by Pakistan's ruling coalition.
Expressing concern at the increased cross-border attacks by the US forces in Pakistan's tribal areas, Sharif called for evolving an anti-terror policy of national consensus. He said the issue of militancy in the tribal areas should be resolved through a political dialogue.
Sharif, whose Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N) party was part of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) – led ruling coalition till August, also claimed credit for the restoration of democracy in the country. He said that the PML-N has sought an in-camera joint session of Parliament for evolving a counter-terror policy of national consensus.
The former premier also rejected the PPP-led government's action of re-appointing the judges deposed by Musharraf during last year's emergency, saying the move was tantamount to humiliating the judiciary.
He called on the people to firmly resolve to halt "the way of dictatorship forever, saying frequent spells of dictatorship had brought Pakistan to the verge of destruction and caused numerous crises for the people.
The dictators, including Field Marshal Ayub Khan, Gen Yahya Khan, Gen Zia-ul-Haq and Gen Musharraf, had compromised on national interests to prolong their illegal rule, Sharif said.
A large number of PML-N supporters attended the gathering organised by the PML-N as part of its observance of a "black day" to mark the ouster of Sharif's government by Musharraf on October 12, 1999.
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