Islamabad, Nov 20: As controversy thickened over a secret memorandum purportedly seeking US help against a possible coup, former Pakistan Premier Nawaz Sharif has asked army chief Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani to take immediate action to end any meddling in politics by military.
Sharif, who heads the main opposition PML-N, told reporters last night that former military rulers like Pervez Musharraf too should be held accountable for their actions.
Responding to questions about the secret memorandum in which Pakistani government purportedly sought US assistance to prevent a possible military takeover and ISI's alleged interference in politics,Sharif said: “It is General Kayani's responsibility to stop military agencies that are getting involved in politics.
“Their role should be immediately ended or else he (Kayani) will be blamed along with others. I don't think our military's dignity should be affected,” said Sharif, whose second term as Premier was ended by a military coup in 1999.
“I don't think our military should be blamed for meddling in politics. I expect this trend to be stopped under all circumstances. We have evidence that one political party is being fully supported by military agencies,” Sharif said, without naming the party he was referring to.
Sharif said Musharraf should face trial for his actions.
“Why is it that he cannot be tried because he was a General when (former Prime Minister) Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto was also tried,” he said.
The PML-N has always stated that Pakistan's honour, security and sovereignty should not be compromised but at the same time, there should be probe into incidents like the US raid that killed Osama bin Laden and the murder of journalist Syed Saleem Shahzad, he said.
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