Government won't last long - Sharif

Islamabad: The present government in Pakistan may collapse much before completing its tenure if its leaders "continue their policies of breaking promises and ignoring public issues".

In an exclusive interview with Gulf News in Punjab House here yesterday, Nawaz Sharif, chief of the Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) said: "I don't want to make any efforts to destabilise the government, but I am afraid it will not last long due to its current way of governance and the policies of its leadership, which are fast losing the trust of leaders and the people."

Breaking promises

Sharif recently quit the ruling coalition led by the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and decided to sit on the opposition benches, saying that PPP Co-Chairperson Asif Ali Zar-dari had not kept his promise to restore the deposed judges.

Asked whether the army would interfere, Sharif said that he would not like to see the army meddle again in political issues.

Sharif also ruled out any possibility of rejoining the coalition despite requests from the PPP.

"We have crossed that point and we don't want to enter the ruling coalition again."

On the issue of taking action against former president Pervez Musharraf, who overthrew his government in 1999 in a bloodless coup, Sharif said: "I hold no personal vendetta against Musharraf.

"I am not keen on settling personal scores, but he should be taken to task for his wrongdoings."

Sharif was ousted by his then-army chief Musharraf in October 1999 after trying to sack the general while he flew home from a trip abroad.

He was sent into exile in Saudi Arabia the following year.

The scion of a wealthy dynasty with interests in steel, sugar and paper, Sharif was handpicked by then-military dictator Zia ul-Haq in 1981 to become one of the youngest ever finance ministers for Punjab province.

On the presidential elections, Sharif said that he would not withdraw his party's presidential candidate Justice (retd) Saeed-uzzaman Siddiqi. "Let us wait for polling day on September 6 as it is premature to say who will win," he said in an optim-istic tone when asked if he sees PPP candidate Zar-dari as the next president.

Sacked

Sharif had won elections for prime minister after Benazir Bhutto's dismissal in 1990 with the military's blessing - but after three years he was sacked on corruption charges following differences with then-president Gulam Ishaq Khan.

Sharif said the government should draw up its own policy to tackle militants in the tribal areas instead of blindly following US policies.

"I must say that the issue should immediately be discussed in the parliament to avoid any further complications. Parliament should form a policy to pave the way for peaceful negotiations because such issues cannot be resolved with guns only. "