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Pakistan ex-PM Sharif accuses President of masterminding his disqualification

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Islamabad, Feb 26 – Pakistan’s former Prime Minster Nawaz Sharif Wednesday accused President Asif Ali Zardari of masterminding his disqualification from contesting election.

The Supreme Court disqualified Nawaz Sharif from standing in the elections as a rival candidate had challenged his qualification, citing criminal convictions against him.

“Zardari has crossed all limits by disqualifying me and my brother,” Sharif told a news conference in Lahore. He said that the verdict will harm the country.

“It is not a verdict from the judges but the judges were ordered to issue such a judgment,” he said.

The court also disqualified Shehbaz Sharif, the Chief Minister of Punjab Province and younger brother of Nawaz Sharif. The court verdict deprived Shehbaz Sharif from the assembly’s membership.

Nawaz Sharif claimed that President Zardrai had offered a ‘business deal’ to his brother that if they help the government to extend the tenure of the incumbent Chief Justice then.

“But we refused to accept the deal, as we cannot compromise on principles,” the former Prime Minister said.

“The court verdict is a war on Pakistan. Those who have delivered the verdict have in fact declared war on Pakistan,” Nawaz Sharif said.

He said Zardari had promised to restore all judges, who were sacked by former President Pervez Musharraf but later he backed out of his commitment.

“We had dreams for Pakistan but they were shattered through the court verdict,” Nawaz Sharif said. He added that he will not file a review appeal against the decision as ‘I do not recognize the judges’.

“Now the decision has come to the people’s court from the Supreme Court. Pakistani nations should stand, otherwise Pakistan will get out of our hands,” the former Prime Minister said.

"We should counter those elements who want to destroy Pakistan,” he said.

Political analysts say the court's verdict has again plunged the country into political crisis at a time when the country is facing militancy.