Reconciliation possible if Musharraf steps down: Nawaz Sharif

Former Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has expressed his willingness to consider any official initiative for a grand national reconciliation, if President Pervez Musharraf were to make it clear that there is no condition from his side, and he is ready to step down.

London, Aug 24 : Former Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has expressed his willingness to consider any official initiative for a 'grand national reconciliation', if President Pervez Musharraf were to make it clear that there is no condition from his side, and he is ready to step down.

"He should allow a level playing field and invite everybody to come back home to sit across the table and resolve all matters among themselves," Sharif told reporters here.

Commenting on the Musharraf regime's decision to approach political parties for reconciliation, Sharif said political parties have the ability to take decisions themselves, and carve out the future course of things so we don't have to depend on any military dictator to show us the way.

Sharif accompanied by his brother Shahbaz Sharif at the press conference, promised to go home soon and lead his party in the forthcoming general elections, but refused to give a firm date for his return.

"We will be holding our party's meeting soon on the issue and then we will also consult our colleagues in the All Parties Democratic Movement (APDM) on questions of when to return and which entry-port to use," he said.

Sharif said all the hurdles in the way of restoring the 'original' 1973 Constitution as it stood on October 12, 1999, including the 17th amendment and the restriction on becoming Prime Minister for the third time would vanish in the days to come.

Speaking on Benazir Bhutto's ongoing talks with Musharraf, he said under the Charter of Democracy (CoD) the signatories were obliged not tot negotiate with army generals.

"If she has undertaken such negotiations it is against the spirit of the CoD and against the principles on which this Charter was based," the Dawn quoted Sharif as saying.

Replying to the apprehensions that he would be arrested on landing in Pakistan, Sharif said there were no charges against him of corruption, kickbacks or commission.

He added that the charges could be fabricated against him, because Musharraf is expert in fabricating cases against innocent people and pardoning proven criminals if they shook hands with him.

"I will face anything that he does against me. I'm not scared of that," Sharif said.

"A dictator does not give in easily, but I think it is the beginning of the end of Musharraf," he said

Commenting on Supreme Court's verdict in his favour, Sharif said democracy had won and dictatorship had lost, and added that there is no place for a dictator in democracy.

ANI