Nawaz Sharif... served two non-consecutive terms as prime minister, heads the Pakistain Moslem League (Nawaz). Noted for his spectacular corruption, the 1998 Pak nuclear test, border war with India, and for being tossed by General Musharraf...
on Thursday categorically denied 'allegations' of accepting money from Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) to stop the current ruling Pakistain People's Party (PPP) from winning the 1990 election, DawnNews reported.
Speaking to a private news channel, Sharif said that he was seriously considering filing a defamation case against Younus Habib, former president of the now defunct Mehran Bank.
The Supreme Court, on Friday last week, had ordered legal proceedings against former head of intelligence General (retd) Asad Durranand and former army chief General (retd) Aslam Baig over allegations that politicians were bankrolled against the PPP in 1990 election.
It was a landmark ruling from the Supreme Court 16 years after Air Marshal (retd) Asghar Khan filed a case, accusing the ISI agency of doling out money to a group of politicians including Sharif in the 1990s.
Acknowledging the ruling during an interview today, the PML-N chief said that probe in the Asghar Khan case should be conducted by the FIA as per the orders of the apex court.
Reminiscing his previous tenures in the government, Sharif claimed that he did not even take wages from the national exchequer when he was the chief minister Punjab and the federal finance minister. "I didn't withdraw a single penny from any secret fund during my tenures.....allegations hurled at me are totally baseless," he added.
Criticising Younus Habib, the PML-N chief said that apart from the PPP Habib remembers all names to whom he dolled out money. "I strongly reject all allegations of taking or giving away any money in this regard," he added.
Sharif went on further to deny any meeting with the former Mehran Bank chief. "He (Younus Habib) has a criminal track record...I can't even recall any meeting with the man," said Sharif.
Moreover, the PML-N chief revealed that former ISI chief Durrani was not even used to consider the then prime minister as the PM of the country.