Musharraf will be ousted soon, says Sharif

ISLAMABAD — The ruling coalition intends to bring legislation in parliament for removal of President Musharraf, former Prime Minister and PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif has said.
"Gen. (Retd) Pervez Musharraf will have to accept the verdict of the people given in the election and step down," Sharif said in an interview with Indian TV channel Aaj Tak to be telecast today, according to a PML-N Press release here.
"We intend to bring the legislation in parliament for President's removal," he said, adding "Musharraf is isolated and will have to go."
He denied having struck any deal with Musharraf. "I have not struck a deal with Musharraf nor have I gone soft on him. I think an autocrat has no role to play in a democratic set-up."
Asked whether he will ever contest election again, Sharif said: "I will surely contest election." He denied harbouring any personal grudge against Musharraf for toppling his government.
Sharif refuted India's claim that terrorist camps continue to operate in Pakistan. He advocated a visa-free regime as part of confidence-building measures to resolve the lingering Kashmir issue. Sharif said there was no substance in the Indian Home Ministry's report that the terrorist training camps were still operating in Pakistan.
''There are no such camps operating in Pakistan,'' he declared. He said the visa system must be abolished between the two countries to improve their bilateral ties and promote a free movement of people from across the border.
Sharif also asserted that Asif Zardari concurred with his views on a visa-free regime between the two countries. He said he even favoured that Pakistan should unilaterally abolish the mandatory visa requirement for Indians even if India reciprocates it or not. "I have spoken to Zardari Sahab about it and I think he also feels the same way.''
NNI adds: Nawaz Sharif said PPP and PML-N were committed to restore all deposed judges in line with their March 9 Murree Declaration. "Definitely, the deposed judges would be restored within 30 days," he said. He said the two parties had no reservations with regard to the judiciary issue and hopefully the accord would be implemented in its letter and spirit.
Sharif said legal experts were preparing a draft resolution on the issue for the parliament. To a question, he dispelled the impression that a constitutional amendment could be moved in the parliament under which a parliamentary committee would be formed to make a decision about restoration of November 2 judiciary.