Thursday, August 3 2006 16:24 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Islamabad: Holding that the military dictators always harmed Pakistan's interests, exiled former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has ruled out any 'deal' with President Pervez Musharraf, saying he would continue to work to oust him from power.

"During the last seven years I never talked to the government and I consider it a big sin to strike any deal with generals," The News quoted Nawaz as saying in a telephonic address to the party general council here Wednesday.

Always careful about not attacking the entire military establishment that once helped him during the Zia-ul-Haq era, Nawaz said a group of few generals was not representing the armed forces but was harming the constitution, masses and country's solidarity.

The instrument for the opposition offensive would be the 'Charter of Democracy' that he has signed with Benazir Bhutto, his rival turned ally and another former prime minister in exile.

Together, they would garner support among other political groups. A no confidence motion against the government of Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, he said, would come "at an appropriate time".

Moves were afoot to bring it in the current session of National Assembly, but this has been dropped for lack of adequate support and differences in approach.

"The signing of 'Charter of Democracy' between major political forces has made rulers and government as sleepless because it ensures revival of true democracy in the country," Sharif said.

He said the historic document would help bring the country out of political crisis. He said, "The 'Charter of Democracy' is the first political document in the history of the country, which clearly declares that there shall be no deal with the unconstitutional rulers."

Himself the 'Quaid' (founding father) of the Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz), Sharif supervised the party's internal elections.

The party general council re-elected unopposed former Punjab chief minister as Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) president and Raja Zafarul Haq as chairman.

The general council met here to elect office-bearers for the next term. The council retained Iqbal Zafar Jhagra as the secretary-general and imprisoned Makhdood Javed Hashmi, as its senior vice-president.

Saranjam Khan, Muhammad Khan Hoti and Mamnoon Hussain were also re-elected vice-presidents.

Ahsan Iqbal, Chaudhry Jaffar Iqbal and Pervez Malik retained the slots of central information secretary, additional secretary-general and central finance secretary, respectively.