'Musharraf engineered defeat of 10 PML-Q leaders in 2008 polls'

Lahore, May 12 (ANI): Former Pakistan President General (r) Pervez Musharraf engineered the defeat of ten PML-Q ministers in the 2008 polls to show the world that elections were free and transparent, Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid President Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain has claimed.

The Daily Times quoted Hussain as saying that the defeat of 10 PML-Q ministers in the 2008 general elections was 'pre-planned', and Musharraf had prepared a list of 10 ministers who were to be defeated.

Claiming that his name was added to the list at the 'very last minute', Hussain said he conveyed to Musharraf after the elections that his party's defeat was engineered.

However, former foreign minister Khursheed Kasuri said the list Shujaat had referred to was prepared by PML-Q leader Pervaiz Elahi, instead of Musharraf.

He said list making was part of Elahi's plan to become prime minister.

Hussain said that what happened in the past must be forgotten, and all political parties must unite to move forward, as the country was passing through a very difficult time.

On the question of influencing Punjab Governor Salmaan Taseer's decision to transfer posted officials during governor's rule in Punjab, Hussain rejected that the decision was "in line with my emand". (ANI)