US informed about Sharifs’ case ruling in advance

The purpose of the exercise was to take the US on board about the political developments that were about to unfold in the country. - File photo.
Diplomatic sources claim that US was apprehensive about the decision and wanted it to be delayed on the grounds that political instability in the country would divert focus from the war on terror. - File photo.

ISLAMABAD: Islamabad had indicated to Washington about the possibility of a Supreme Court decision to disqualify former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his brother Shahbaz Sharif from holding any elected office.

Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, who is currently in Washington, leading a team of senior officials for participating in the review of US policy for the region, hinted at this during his bilateral talks with some of his interlocutors there, well placed diplomatic sources said.

Although the report was confirmed from multiple sources, but one of them was so categorical that he said that the United States was informed about the decision at least a day before it was announced by the Supreme Court.

The purpose of this exercise was to take the US administration on board about the political developments that were about to unfold in the country.

It is claimed that the US expressed its concerns about the timing of the decision and had wanted it to be delayed on the grounds that the political instability in the country would not be helpful for the war on terror as it could take away the focus from the operation against Al-Qaeda and Taliban.

Washington’s fears were proven true by the subsequent events as the decision threw the country into political chaos.

In a related development Acting US Ambassador Gerald Feierstea called on Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani. The major emphasis of the discussions was on the political situation in the country after the apex court’s decision.

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