No personal grudge against Musharraf but trial a 'must': Sharif

Islamabad, Aug. 22 (ANI): Former Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has said his party, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), had no personal grudge against former President General Pervez Musharraf, but that it was a unanimous call of the country to try the former general under Article 6 for disregarding the Constitution.

Interacting with media persons at Punjab House here, Sharif said Musharraf's trial is 'must' to ensure supremacy of law.

"It is a golden opportunity to block the path of military interventions and if the government does not move against the dictator, it would be a great disappointment for the nation," Sharif said.

He said with the Supreme Court declaring Musharraf's November 3, 2007 acts as 'illegal' and 'extrajudicial', the Government had no option but to try the former military ruler.

Sharif also threatened that the PML-N would come out of the Parliamentary Committee on Constitutional Reforms if the PPP government fails to revoke the 17th Constitutional Amendment as soon as possible.

He also regretted the delay in implementation of the Charter of Democracy (CoD) in true letter and spirit.

Earlier, in a meeting with his close associates and party workers, Sharif expressed disappointment at Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani's decision not to try Musharraf for high treason.

Referring to Gilani's statement in the National Assembly where he asked the opposition to come up with a unanimous resolution for Musharraf's trial, Sharif said he never expected this from Gilani.

"I was not expecting this kind of statement from Gilani. He broke my heart," The News quoted Sharif, as saying.

He said Gilani's statement suggests that he supports Musharraf's illegal acts.

During the meeting, Sharif also clarified that he was never approached by any foreign diplomat asking him to 'forgive' Musharraf.

Responding to a question, Sharif said British diplomat Mark Lyall Grant had never discussed any deal with him before the resignation of Musharraf.

"Grant never asked anything more and informed him that he is going to the United Nations as the new British envoy," he said. (ANI)