Former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan have met for the first time and discussed chances of a grand opposition alliance to fight the next year's election in Pakistan.
Sharif, flanked by Imran, after their meeting in London on Tuesday, told the media that President Pervez "Musharraf is proving to be more dangerous than India and the country has to be saved from being destroyed by the Generals."
He asked all opposition parties to come together to form a grand alliance to oust Musharraf in the forthcoming elections.
Their meeting comes in the backdrop of stepped up back channel contacts between Musharraf and former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto to work out a political rapprochement to expand the pro-Musharraf alliance reportedly under pressure from the United States.
A bitter critic of Sharif in the past, Imran discussed with him the chances of opposition parties forming a grand alliance, The Nation reported.
Imran, who turned an opponent of Musharraf after supporting the General's coup in 1999 in which Sharif was ousted, said he regretted that "mistake".
{{/usCountry}}Imran, who turned an opponent of Musharraf after supporting the General's coup in 1999 in which Sharif was ousted, said he regretted that "mistake".
{{/usCountry}}Imran said he had certain differences with Sharif in the past but now he (Sharif) has changed a lot.
"Sharif is a true Pakistani. I acknowledge that it was a mistake on my part I supported Gen Musharraf who has no ability to do any thing for the country," he said.
Apparently referring to Bhutto-Musharraf backchannel talks, Sharif said he would not like any opposition party leader to join the ranks of pro-Musharraf parties.