Sharif claims Musharraf offered him 'underhanded' deal in 2007

Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has claimed that former military ruler General (Retd.) Pervez Musharraf had offered him an "underhanded" deal to form a joint government in 2008.

Speaking at a meeting of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) parliamentary committee on Tuesday, Sharif said: "Musharraf wanted a secret deal with me in 2007," reports the Dawn.

Sharif's government was toppled by General Musharraf, then the Army Chief, through a coup in 1999 following which many members of the Sharif family including the Prime Minister were forced into exile in Saudi Arabia, where they remained until their return to Pakistan in November 2007.

Sharif said that Musharraf was willing to meet him and made several attempts to do so in the past.

"But I declined," he added.

He said that his family did not want to leave their motherland, but were forced into exile by the military dictator.

The Prime Minister noted that the former president was now facing a similar fate and had left the country in disgrace.

"Now, Musharraf is willing to return to the country, but he cannot," he said.

However, Sharif's assertions were disputed by former Musharraf aide and All-Pakistan Muslim League member Ahmed Raza Kasuri. "I have been working with Gen Musharraf for a long time and I have never heard any such thing," he said.