Re: Osama was eager to see Nawaz Sharif as premier: Qazi Hussain
Yup this bit of info has been floating around..again this is all old news..considering how the IJI had effectively conceded all foreign affairs and particularly Afghan policy to the Faujis I doubt Nawaz could do much without approval
Sharif met Bin Laden three times, says ex-ISI official
From our correspondent
22 March 2006
ISLAMABAD — A former official of the Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) has said that former prime minister Nawaz Sharif met Osama bin Laden and received funds from him.
“Nawaz Sharif met Osama bin Laden on at least three occasions and was desperately seeking his financial assistance,” Khalid Khawaja told news web site Adnkronos International (AKI) in an interview.
Khawaja, a retired officer of the Pakistan Air Force who was in the ISI in the late 80s, rejected a recent denial by the Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) that its leader had ever met Osama. “Osama is above all this politicking,” said Khawaja.
“He is a great man and will remain great.”
Muttahida Majlise Amal President Qazi Hussain Ahmed had said in a recent interview that Sharif had repeatedly met Bin Laden, who had offered him money to topple the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) government in 1990.
Khawaja, who developed a friendship with Bin Laden while fighting against the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan in the 80s, told AKI that the Al Qaeda head wanted the “secular” PPP government overthrown to ensure that Pakistan continued supporting the Afghan ‘jihad’. Khawaja said that Bin Laden gave him funds which he personally delivered to Sharif, AKI reported.
“Sharif insisted that I arrange a direct meeting with the ‘sheikh’ which I did in Saudi Arabia. Nawaz met Osama thrice in Saudi Arabia,” Khawaja said.
He said that the most “historic” meeting between the two men was held at the Green Palace Hotel in Madinah.
“Osama asked Nawaz to devote himself to ‘jihad’ in Kashmir. Nawaz immediately said: ‘I love jihad’.” “Osama smiled, and said. ‘Yes, you may love jihad, but your love for jihad is this much,’ pointing to a small portion of a nearby pillar.
“Your love for your children is this much,” he said, pointing to a larger portion of the pillar. “And your love for your parents is this much, he continued, pointing towards the largest portion.”
Khawaja said that such arguments were “beyond the comprehension” of Sharif, who kept asking “Manya key nai manya? (Has he agreed or not?)”.
The former premier was hoping for a grant of Rs500 million. Although Bin Laden gave a smaller amount, Khawaja said that he arranged for Sharif to meet the Saudi royal family, which pledged political support for him and kept its word until he was dislodged by President Pervez Musharraf in 1999, AKI reported.
“In fact, it was the royal family that secured Sharif’s pardon and exile to Saudi Arabia.