Musharraf wants Nawaz to adopt `live and let live policy (Re-Issue with correction)

If former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is ready to show some flexibility on live and let live basis, President Pervez Musharraf is ready to meet Sharif in Jeddah, authoritative PML-Q sources have said.

Islamabad, Oct 30 : If former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is ready to show some flexibility on "live and let live" basis, President Pervez Musharraf is ready to meet Sharif in Jeddah, authoritative PML-Q sources have said.

The Pakistan Government is also using other channels, including the US and the well-wishers in Saudi Arabia to convey to Sharif that he could be given relief only if he sits down with Musharraf, sources said.

"A highly confidential one-to-one meeting with Musharraf in Jeddah was proposed to Sharif two days back by some high Saudi authorities. Sharif was, however, flexible in his stance not to negotiate or even sit with Musharraf," they disclosed.

Sources said that Sharif was asked that if he agreed to sit and negotiate with Musharraf, the latter could come to Jeddah any time to have a confidential meeting with him.

"Despite Sharif's clear refusal to have a meeting with Musharraf, the possibility of such a confidential meeting could not be totally ruled out in the near future," they added.

Sharif is learnt to have said that his agenda was very clear and that he wanted rule of law in Pakistan. "The people in Pakistan support me for not compromising with a military dictator," sources quoted Nawaz, as saying.

They disclosed that if some contact was established between Musharraf and Sharif, it would be the second contact after October 12, 1999 the day when the Pakistan Army overthrew Sharif's Government.

Source said that first contact was established at the time of the death of Muhammad Sharif, father of Nawaz Sharif, when Musharraf called Shahbaz Sharif and gave his condolences.

"Shahbaz handed the phone to Nawaz and Musharraf expressed some words of condolence to Nawaz."

However, Musharraf's call was followed by the visit of the then Pakistani Ambassador in Saudi Arabia, ordering Nawaz and Shahbaz to abstain from going to Pakistan with the body of Muhammad Sharif.

The source commented that it was the best time for reconciliation between Musharraf and the Sharifs, but the General showed extreme rigidity at that time.

Shahbaz Sharif said that there was no such development, and added that if Musharraf meets Nawaz without any prior preparation from both sides it would be a disaster.

The News quoted him saying that the PML-N would never go for any deal like the one between Benazir Bhutto and Musharraf.

ANI