PESHAWAR — Opposition Leader Mahmood Khan Achakzai has revealed dramatic details of the 2006 Charter of Democracy (CoD) negotiations. These took place in London. The revelations include a secret airport exit by PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif.
Achakzai is the chief of Pashtunkhwa Millat Awami Party (PKMAP). He shared these details during a National Assembly floor speech. His address offered rare insight into Pakistan’s democratic history.
Nawaz Sharif’s Secret Exit at Heathrow Airport
Achakzai’s first encounter occurred at London’s Heathrow Airport. Sharif had told Achakzai he would leave for London the next day. But Achakzai arrived at Heathrow to find Sharif already there. Sharif was quietly slipping out through a back exit.
“A woman was guiding Nawaz Sharif out of the back door of the airport, asking for privacy,” Achakzai stated. “I questioned why he chose that route. His associate then told me to leave him alone. Sharif gave me the number to his London flat.”
Achakzai also made another key revelation. Senior PML-N leader Khawaja Asif was waiting at the main terminal exit. He was standing with British-Pakistani associates. He had no idea Sharif had already left through the rear entrance.
The February 21 Meeting: Building the PML-N and PPP Alliance
Achakzai held a high-stakes meeting on February 21. He sat down with both Nawaz Sharif and Shehbaz Sharif. The atmosphere was tense. Nawaz Sharif showed visible frustration during press briefings.
Achakzai proposed a solution to break the deadlock. He suggested a coalition between PML-N and the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP).
Key Points of Achakzai’s Proposal
- Achakzai urged Sharif to use the PPP’s mass street power.
- He spent 18 minutes persuading a reluctant PML-N leadership.
- He warned that mistrust destroys alliances without a unified front.
The PML-N leadership was initially resistant. Achakzai pushed hard for the coalition. He argued that only a united democratic front could challenge the military regime. His persistence gradually won over the Sharif brothers.
The London Summit: 36 Parties Unite
The diplomacy paid off. A total of 36 political parties converged in London. They united under a shared democratic agenda. Their goal was to challenge Pakistan’s political and military establishment.
May 12 Karachi Violence and the CoD Legacy
Achakzai concluded his speech with another important point. He noted the London coalition also addressed the fallout of May 12 Karachi violence. This cemented the 2006 London meetings as a turning point. It remains a defining moment in Pakistan’s democratic movement.
