ISLAMABAD, Sept 13 Former president Gen (retd) Pervez Musharraf has said that King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia had assured him during a recent meeting that Pakistan Muslim League-N leader Nawaz Sharif would not seek action against him under Article 6 of the Constitution.

The claim was made by Gen (retd) Musharraf in an interview with a private TV channel on Sunday vindicated reports that the Saudi government was trying to avert a confrontation in Pakistan.

However, the Saudi government itself has not openly declared support for the former president.

Pakistan Muslim League-Q secretary-general Mushahid Hussain said Mr Musharafs had left the country after a 'deal' worked out by international players. “Therefore, no action will be taken against him under Article 6,” he said.

According to analysts, the PML-N's stance appeared to have softened after the Saudi involvement and, therefore, there was no possibility of a legal action against the former president. PML-N's Khawaja Asif, however, rejected the former president's claim and said there was no way his statement could be confirmed.

He asserted that his party had “not deviated from its stance” that (Gen) Musharaf should be tried under Article 6.

Nabeel Gabol of the PPP said he did not know about any deal under which Mr Musharraf had left the country, adding that his party was “ready to support any move brought against the former president by the N-League in parliament”.

”If the PML-N is sincere about taking action against Musharraf, what is holding Chaudhry Nisar back from moving a resolution against him in parliament,” he said.

The PPP's information secretary Fauzia Wahab said Gen (retd) Muhasrraf's exit might have been arranged by the Saudi government.

”No one can deny the role of Saudi government in the country's politics ... The whole nation saw this when a former prime minister went to Saudi Arabia on self-exile and how they sheltered him,” she said.

Gen (retd) Musharraf told his interviewer that he would remain abroad till November because of his personal engagements.

He urged politicians to avoid focussing on him and concentrate on solving pressing problems like the power, sugar and flour crises, price hike and terrorism and extremism.

About reports that Pakistans security forces had used arms supplied by the United States for the war against terror against India, he said “Although these arms were provided to us by the US, it is the prerogative of Pakistans armed forces to use them wherever they feel necessary to defend the country's sovereignty.”

Online adds Mr Musharraf said that all political forces had been taken on board regarding the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO).

Denying that he was in contact with the government, he said there was no major difference between his policy and that of President Asif Ali Zardari vis-à-vis the United States.

He also said that the Saudi monarch had “not asked me to apologise for my actions”.

He reiterated that as president he had taken all decisions in the national interest by keeping in mind the majority opinion.

Rejecting Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain's claims about poll rigging, he said “I am not responsible for the defeat of the PML-Q in Feb 18 polls ... No one can even think about defeating a group which supports him.”

Referring to the decisions he took in the aftermath of 9/11, Mr Musharraf said if the country had not cooperated with the US, Pakistan's armed forces might have had to fight both the US and Indian forces, adding that the US forces were ready to cross into Pakistani territory.

”At that time Pakistan provided Shamsi and Jacobabad airbases to the US.”

The former president urged the US to recognise the fact that Pakistan ”will never compromise on national security and stability”.

He said that the country's nuclear defence system was “very sophisticated and safe”.

However, he said, the issue of nuclear proliferation had tarnished the image of Pakistan.