Musharrafs offer to give up uniform too little, too late: Nawaz

Former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has said that President Pervez Musharrafs offer to step down as Army Chief was too little, too late, and added that he planned to return to Pakistan between September 8 and 10, to lead a campaign to oust the General.

London, Aug 30 : Former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has said that President Pervez Musharraf's offer to step down as Army Chief was "too little, too late", and added that he planned to return to Pakistan between September 8 and 10, to lead a campaign to oust the General.

"Musharraf does not qualify to be a presidential candidate, whether in or out of uniform ... He has lost credibility and the people of Pakistan want him out," Sharif told The Telegraph.

Nawaz Sharif and his brother Shahbaz Sharif, have decided to return between September 8 and 10, most probably in Lahore.

They would likely be accompanied by a large number of international media representatives.

It is expected that a formal decision as to the date, time and place of arrival would be announced on Thursday, the Daily Times reported.

Sharif said that Benazir Bhutto's attempts to deal with Musharraf were a "setback" and a "clear violation" of a deal agreed between the two former Prime Ministers to do "no deals with military dictators".

"She decided to go down a different path," he said, but added that Bhutto's discussions with Musharraf were offset by "the overwhelming support of the people" for the end of military rule.

Sharif also urged Washington not to "equate Musharraf with Pakistan" unless it wished to give further impetus to Islamist extremism in the region.

ANI