Sharif exiled in national interest: Musharraf

By B. Muralidhar Reddy

ISLAMABAD, DEC. 13. Stung by allround criticism on the deal with the former Prime Minister, Mr. Nawaz Sharif, allowing him to leave for Saudi Arabia on exile, the Pakistan Chief Executive, Gen. Pervez Musharraf, sought to justify it on the ground that it was a decision taken in the larger national interest.

A full four days after Mr. Sharif has left, the Chief Executive took his Cabinet into confidence on the nitty-gritty of ``the deal''. One of the leading newspapers here reported today that Gen. Musharraf had not bothered to consult his Cabinet on the exile of Mr. Sharif and instead chose to brief the Army commanders.

An official statement said here that Gen. Musharraf briefed his Cabinet on the background of the arrangement and considerations under which Mr. Sharif and his family were allowed to leave the country. The statement quoted Gen. Musharraf as telling the Cabinet that the decision was taken in the ``larger national interest while giving due consideration to the request by Pakistan's closest and brotherly country'' (Saudi Arabia).

The Chief Executive noted that while the presidential pardon remitted Mr. Sharif's rigorous imprisonment, it did not waive off his disqualification from holding political office and the imposition of fines.

The military Government is trying its best to sell the argument that in the last three days all that has happened is the jail- term of Mr. Sharif has been converted into exile. The exile is supposed to be for a period of 10 years while the courts had convicted him for 25 years of imprisonment.

At the Cabinet meeting, Gen. Musharraf, according to the official statement, dispelled the impression that Mr. Sharif's departure has affected the accountability process. ``On the contrary, the accountability process will continue full steam.''

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Section  : International
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