s90
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NEW YORK: Former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has expressed concern about a controversial peace deal Zardari government signed with militants and decried they (militants) are trying to export their particularly harsh version of sharia.
In an interview published in USA today Sharif asked rhetorically how do we deal with the situation in Swat? Sharif observed they are now threatening to get out of Swat and take other areas into their custody. So we've got to avoid that situation.
Nawaz Sharif asserted any deal with militants should include commitments that democracy will not be allowed to deteriorate and the writ of the government will be honored, adding that women's schools and universities must be allowed to stay open.
The newspaper said Sharif who had called for a revolution to topple the government backed off from criticising Zardari saying he wants to work with ruling coalition.
In the interview conducted in Lahore, Sharif downplayed fears that the nuclear-armed country could be taken over by Taliban militants, who are gaining strength both in Pakistan and in neighboring Afghanistan, where they are battling US and Nato troops.
Sharif stressed the insurgency in Swat and border areas could be defused in just two years if sufficient economic development took place.
USA today said Sharif, who served two terms as prime minister in the 1990s before he was ousted in a military coup, is in a strong political position once again after staring down his rival, President Asif Ali Zardari, last month in a confrontation over the independence of Pakistan's courts.
After talking of a prelude to revolution, Sharif escaped house arrest to lead thousands of protesters on a march toward the capital of Islamabad. The public pressure forced Zardari on March 15 to back down and reinstate judges purged by the previous, military regime.
The newspaper said that Sharif sounded triumphant. My eyes still can't believe what they saw on the 15th of March, he said.
For the first time in the 60-year history of this country, a day had arrived when the people actually demonstrated their strength, their power. This nation stood up for its rights and succeeded.
Sharif avoided criticising Zardari directly during the interview and insisted that he wants to work with the ruling coalition, led by the president's Pakistan Peoples Party.
Sharif still wants Zardari to give up some of his presidential powers but says the dispute should be resolved in parliament, not on the streets.
This country cannot afford any confrontation, Sharif said. We're not going to put our country in jeopardy (because of desire for) power. Grabbing power at any cost is not our motto.
Our motto is to get the country back on the rails of democracy, strengthen institutions like the judiciary and media and take necessary steps to prevent anybody from abrogating or suspending the constitution.
Sharif has never been a Washington favorite. In the 1990s, his government tested a nuclear bomb, earning economic sanctions from the Clinton administration.
Sharif said he had a good relationship with President Clinton and is a fan of President Obama. I have never met Obama, but I have a good impression about him, he said.
I think he's a good guy. Since Obama took office, he said, US diplomats have been reaching out to him and to other political leaders.
Democratic politicians returned to power in parliamentary elections last year, and President Pervez Musharraf resigned.
Now, Sharif said, politicians must set aside their quarrels and work together to find solutions to the Taliban insurgency and Pakistan's other pressing needs.
This country is facing huge, huge problems internal, external, he said. It's very important that democracy deliver.
The newspaper pointed out Sharif, head of the conservative Pakistan Muslim League, said that he opposes attacks by airborne US drones on militant hide-outs as counterproductive and wants to see dialogue with more moderate Islamist groups.
In an interview published in USA today Sharif asked rhetorically how do we deal with the situation in Swat? Sharif observed they are now threatening to get out of Swat and take other areas into their custody. So we've got to avoid that situation.
Nawaz Sharif asserted any deal with militants should include commitments that democracy will not be allowed to deteriorate and the writ of the government will be honored, adding that women's schools and universities must be allowed to stay open.
The newspaper said Sharif who had called for a revolution to topple the government backed off from criticising Zardari saying he wants to work with ruling coalition.
In the interview conducted in Lahore, Sharif downplayed fears that the nuclear-armed country could be taken over by Taliban militants, who are gaining strength both in Pakistan and in neighboring Afghanistan, where they are battling US and Nato troops.
Sharif stressed the insurgency in Swat and border areas could be defused in just two years if sufficient economic development took place.
USA today said Sharif, who served two terms as prime minister in the 1990s before he was ousted in a military coup, is in a strong political position once again after staring down his rival, President Asif Ali Zardari, last month in a confrontation over the independence of Pakistan's courts.
After talking of a prelude to revolution, Sharif escaped house arrest to lead thousands of protesters on a march toward the capital of Islamabad. The public pressure forced Zardari on March 15 to back down and reinstate judges purged by the previous, military regime.
The newspaper said that Sharif sounded triumphant. My eyes still can't believe what they saw on the 15th of March, he said.
For the first time in the 60-year history of this country, a day had arrived when the people actually demonstrated their strength, their power. This nation stood up for its rights and succeeded.
Sharif avoided criticising Zardari directly during the interview and insisted that he wants to work with the ruling coalition, led by the president's Pakistan Peoples Party.
Sharif still wants Zardari to give up some of his presidential powers but says the dispute should be resolved in parliament, not on the streets.
This country cannot afford any confrontation, Sharif said. We're not going to put our country in jeopardy (because of desire for) power. Grabbing power at any cost is not our motto.
Our motto is to get the country back on the rails of democracy, strengthen institutions like the judiciary and media and take necessary steps to prevent anybody from abrogating or suspending the constitution.
Sharif has never been a Washington favorite. In the 1990s, his government tested a nuclear bomb, earning economic sanctions from the Clinton administration.
Sharif said he had a good relationship with President Clinton and is a fan of President Obama. I have never met Obama, but I have a good impression about him, he said.
I think he's a good guy. Since Obama took office, he said, US diplomats have been reaching out to him and to other political leaders.
Democratic politicians returned to power in parliamentary elections last year, and President Pervez Musharraf resigned.
Now, Sharif said, politicians must set aside their quarrels and work together to find solutions to the Taliban insurgency and Pakistan's other pressing needs.
This country is facing huge, huge problems internal, external, he said. It's very important that democracy deliver.
The newspaper pointed out Sharif, head of the conservative Pakistan Muslim League, said that he opposes attacks by airborne US drones on militant hide-outs as counterproductive and wants to see dialogue with more moderate Islamist groups.
. I was going to say the same. An immediate change of stance should clear the minds of Pakistanis how these political thugs under the command of their American masters play with the country at the expense of the country. NS is nothing more then a mere thug and a hypocrite. He needs US approval to become the PM of Pakistan makes me sick.
