Nawaz Sharif was a liar, deserved to go: Pervez Musharraf to India Today

Speaking to India Today a day after Nawaz Sharif's ouster as Pakistan prime minister, former president Pervez Musharraf said that his country is better off without Sharif.

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Nawaz Sharif was a liar, deserved to go: Pervez Musharraf to India Today
Pervez Musharraf (Reuters file photo)

In Short

  • Musharraf called the Pakistan Supreme Court judgment that deposed of Sharif "tremendous".
  • Panama Papers expose showed Sharif's family owning properties in excess of their incomes.
  • Supreme Court's disqualifying Nawaz Sharif from office is no judicial coup: Musharraf.

Ousted Pakistan prime minister Nawaz Sharif deserved what he got, former president and army chief General Pervez Musharraf said today.

Speaking to India Today TV's Managing Editor Rahul Kanwal, Musharraf called the Pakistan Supreme Court judgment that deposed of Sharif "tremendous" and good for the people of Pakistan.

Musharraf denied charges that the Supreme Court disqualifying Sharif from office amounted to a 'judicial coup', saying that the judgment was "well thought-out" and applauding the justices for showing "caliber". Musharraf, who as the Pakistan Army chief once overthrew a civilian government and imposed military rule, spoke to India Today TV a day after Sharif stepped down as PM after the Supreme Court ruled that he had been dishonest by not disclosing income from a Dubai-based company.

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The Pakistan Supreme Court verdict came in a case related to the Panama Papers expose that threw up documents purportedly showing Sharif's family owning properties in excess of their incomes.

SHAHID KHAQAN ABBASI TO BE INTERIM PRIME MINISTER

Musharraf's comments came just as news broke in Pakistan that former petroleum minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi will take over as interim prime minister. Nawaz Sharif's brother Shahbaz Sharif is expected to eventually become the prime minister of Pakistan once he gets elected to the national parliament.

In his chat with India Today, Musharraf spoke on a range of issues, including China, Kashmir and India Today's recent investigation that exposed how some Hurriyat leaders took funding from Pakistan to, among other acts, burn schools.

The former Pakistani president called the investigation "propaganda" and once again slammed India for carrying out a "genocide" in Kashmir. On China, Musharraf said that Islamabad is "great" friends with Beijing. The former Pakistani army general also said that the United States's recent blocking of funds was not going to "kill" Pakistan.

MUSHARRAF ON SHARIF, PAKISTAN POLITICS, INDIA: TOP HIGHLIGHTS
  1. The Supreme Court judgment against Nawaz Sharif is not a coup, Musharraf said. "(It) was a very good judgment that was well thought out and well deserved by Nawaz Sharif. The Supreme Court, yes indeed, previously on many occasions (hasn't shown) such caliber, but this time they (the justices) showed caliber and they reached a judgment which is absolutely according to the wishes of the people of Pakistanis."
  2. It is a tremendous judgment that is good for the people of Pakistan, Musharraf also said, adding that Nawaz Sharif told lies, distorted facts. He broke the law of Pakistan and deserved to go, Musharraf said, acknowledging that his ouster would help make it easier for him to return to the country. "But, I always planned to go back," Musharraf added. "I had gone back in 2013 and the same cases (that were there against me then) are there now... But yes, the dismissal of Nawaz Sharif eases my situation."
  3. Sharif's dismissal is bound to benefit Imran Khan and his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Musharraf said while talking about the political implications of the Supreme Court ruling. "Yes, Imran Khan (and his PTI) is the gainer. (Nawaz Sharif's) Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) is the loser." Musharraf also indicated that he is not averse to aligning with Imran Khan to take on the PML(N) in the upcoming general elections. "I am prepared to be in league in anyone... my aim is clear - to dislodge PML(N) and the (Pakistan) People's Party - they have been tried and tested three times and have failed all those times. They should be defeated and sidelined for good. They have looted and plundered Pakistan," Musharraf said.
  4. Asked about the India Today investigation on Hurriyat terror funding, Musharraf came down heavily calling the India Today report "propaganda" and the allegations that Hurriyat burnt schools "nonsense." Members of the Hurriyat are "mujahedeen who want to help their Kashmiri brethren", Musharraf said, adding, "All the youth of Kashmir have risen against you (India). You should be ashamed of what your Army is doing in Kashmir... You are causing a genocide there."
  5. On international affairs, Musharraf said that there is a need for ground realities to be understood and for Islamabad to correct the impression other nations have of Pakistan. Nawaz Sharif failed us in that regard, Musharraf added, while saying that the US's recent move to block $350 million in funding will not "kill Pakistan".
  6. The former president also spoke about China calling the country a "great friend" and dismissing reports that Beijing was seeking to "enslave" Pakistan. "When they give us aid (and) cooperate in defense matters, it hurts you (India) and that is why you keep talking about it," Musharraf said. "China not trying to enslave us or making us into their chick," Musharraf said, referring to a recent India Today Magazine cover story headlined "China's New Chick" that reported about Beijing's expansive plans to gain a controlling stake in large swathes of Pakistan's economy.

FULL INTERVIEW | It's a very good verdict, says former Pakistan PM Pervez Musharraf on Nawaz Sharif's ouster

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