Sharif asks Zardari to appear before Swiss court

Washington, Dec. 28 (ANI): Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) chief Nawaz Sharif has asked President Asif Ali Zardari to appear before the Swiss court to clear his name.

"Whatever cases, there are. In the country or outside, here or in Switzerland, they should go and defend themselves before the court and clear their names. They should be prepared to accept the judgment of an independent court," The Dawn quoted Sharif, as saying.

In a TV interview, Sharif advised all NRO beneficiaries, including Zardari, to appear before the relevant courts and clear their names. They should respect the judiciary and implement the Supreme Court decision on the NRO issue," he said.

He also blamed the PPP government for not being sincere in repealing the 17th amendment.

"They want to include it in a package but we fear that this package will never be approved and therefore the 17th amendment will also remain...There are no differences on this issue. Even President Zardari is committed to removing this amendment, then why this delay? Why these delaying tactics?. Mr Zardari should fulfil his promise," he said.

Sharif said he opposed the Kerry-Lugar bill because he believed that it would hurt Pakistan's sovereignty.

"I have reservations about this bill and I have conveyed those to Senator John Kerry as well. Instead of seeking aid or IMF loans, we should focus on economic development," he said.

Sharif blamed military dictatorships for most of the problems that Pakistan is facing.

"Terrorism, economic and political instability, even the NRO, all these problems cropped up during dictatorships. If we had had regular democratic governments, we would be better off," he said. (ANI)