New Delhi: A meaningful dialogue with India is possible only when democracy is restored in Pakistan, this is what former Pakistan prime minister Nawaz Sharif told Indian journalists in Paris.
Calling the signing of the Lahore declaration in 1999 with India a positive step, Sharif charged General Pervez Musharaf of subverting the peace process at that time.
"Mr Musharraf unfortunately subverted the peace process by launching an attack on Kargil," Sharif said.
Meanwhile, a majority of Pakistanis feel that Musharraf should quit one of the two offices he currently holds and want former Prime Ministers Benazir Bhutto and Sharif to return from exile.
Though many favour Musharraf, they want him to be either President or Army Chief and not both, an opinion survey conducted in Pakistan by the International Republican Institute (IRI), a research organisation of the US Republican Party said.
Details of the survey published by Dawn newspaper said that two-thirds of Pakistanis want to see the exiled leadership back in the country and take part in elections.
Bhutto topped the rating with 18 per cent for the Prime Minister's job. Present Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz got 15 per cent and Nawaz Sharif 13 per cent.
The survey conducted in the months of May and June this year said 77 per cent people think the country needs a very strong and popular leader while 48 per cent said President Musharraf should not hold two offices simultaneously.
However, nearly two-thirds of the respondents approve of the way Musharraf is handling his job.
Sixty per cent of the people want a parliamentary system instead of presidential system. Still, half of the respondents consider the role of the army in civilian government as necessary.
A total of 3,046 adult Pakistanis, both men and women, from nearly 200 villages and 150 urban locations from all four provinces were randomly selected and interviewed for the poll.
(With agency inputs)
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