Chief Justice Chaudhry, a third rate man, says Musharraf

London, Feb.18 : Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf has described sacked Supreme Court Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry as "the scum of the earth - a third-rate man - a corrupt man".

He revealed this to Jemima Khan, the ex-wife of cricketer-turned politician Imran Khan during a n interview that she was doing for The Independent last week.

Musharraf also said that in hindsight he was wrong to allow lawyers to take their protest against his actions on judiciary to the streets.

"With hindsight, it was my personal error that I allowed them to go and express their views in the street... We should have controlled them in the beginning before it got out of control," he told Jemima solemnly.

According to Jemima, Musharraf mentions democracy a great deal, and seems sincere and is genuinely likeable.

But, he just can't help himself. You can take the general out of the army but not the army out of the general," she adds.

She says that as she left, Musharraf presented her with a clock inscribed "from the President of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan".

"It will be the saddest day for Pakistan if Benazir's crooked widower is in power by Monday," I say. As the President walks away, he looks back. "At least we part on agreement."

ANI