By IANS,
Islamabad : Pakistan’s former military ruler Pervez Musharraf Monday denied having linked security of slain former premier Benazir Bhutto to her relations with him.
“I never told Ms. Benazir Bhutto that her security was dependent on her relations with me,” Musharraf told media here. “I can never utter such cheap words.”
The former military president, who was forced to step down last August, criticised New York Times journalist David E. Sanger over the allegations he made in his book “The Inheritance”. Sanger’s book focuses on the foreign policy challenges faced by US President Barack Obama.
“I don’t know what the writer was trying to prove but what he has written is far from the fact and completely distorted. Maybe, he was trying to create sensation,” Musharraf said.
“You must show some character,” Musharraf pointed towards the author.
Bhutto was assassinated in December 2007, two months after returning from self-imposed exile. Bhutto’s husband, Asif Ali Zardari, became president after Musharraf resigned.
Musharraf also denied playing a double game of supporting the Taliban while receiving US funding to fight them when he was in power.
No deal was made with the Taliban during his rule and Pakistan remained committed to fighting the war on terror for eight years, he said.
“The allegations being levelled against the armed forces and intelligence agencies of the country will lead to the defeat in war on terror,” Musharraf said.
“A strict eye must be kept on institutions that are undermining others,” he said.
To a question regarding Swat accord, Musharraf said the government is doing what it deems fit.