Musharraf rejects striking deal before stepping down

Rejecting reports that he had struck a deal before stepping down as the country's President, former Pakistan President General Pervez Musharraf has said that he is ready to appear before the Supreme Court to prove his innocence and challenge the volley of cases filed against him.

Addressing the Pak-American Cultural Society in New Jersey, Musharraf once again defended his decision regarding the promulgation of the National Reconciliation Ordinance, saying it was necessary, as the judiciary had failed to take action against slain Pakistan People's Party leader Benazir Bhutto and other political leaders in any of the corruption cases filed against them.

Musharraf had earlier said that all political parties were taken on board by him before the promulgation of the NRO. Musharraf, who is on a lecture tour of the US currently, said his decisions might have seen massive resentment back home, but Pakistanis living in America were with him. "During the US stay, the Pakistani community not only welcome me wholeheartedly but also backed my stance on national issues," The Nation quoted Musharraf, as saying.

The former general blamed Pakistan's current leadership for the chaos. "Pakistan possesses extraordinary capabilities and the present leadership is responsible for country's current situation," Musharraf said.