Nawaz rejects Musharraf’s claim that Kashmir issue was sidelined in Lahore Declaration

LONDON - Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) chief, Nawaz Sharif, has rejected former military ruler Pervez Musharraf’s latest statement about the Lahore Declaration, that the Kashmir issue had been sidelined by him when he was the Prime Minister.

Nawaz maintained that the Kashmir dispute had remained at the top of his government’s agenda, without making any compromise over the issue, The Nation reported.

The former general was not serious in returning to Pakistan, and was issuing meaningless statements, Nawaz claimed, adding that he (Nawaz) considered the APML founder’s statements unworthy to be replied to.

He also held Musharraf responsible for the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO), as he had crafted and sanctioned the ordinance.

When asked if he intended to register cases against Musharraf, Nawaz remarked that he had no personal interest in the matter, and everyone knew who had violated the constitution.

Earlier this week, Musharraf had stated that the joint communiqu� drafted following the then Indian premier Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s visit to Lahore on Nawaz’s invitation, did not carry a word about Kashmir.

“When I asked him about it, Nawaz Sharif replied that Vajpayee would not sign the communiqu� if Kashmir was mentioned. At this I said that he should better go back if he does so,” Musharraf had added. (ANI)