Nawaz Sharif derides Musharraf's U.S. ties

By Zeeshan Haider

CHAKWAL, Pakistan (Reuters) - Electioneering in his home province of Punjab on Wednesday, former Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif derided his old foe President Pervez Musharraf as a lackey of the United States.

"He does not care about Pakistan, he cares about America," Sharif told a rally of about 5,000 people in Chakwal district, around 65 km southeast of the capital Islamabad.

Sharif was allowed to return from exile in November thanks to pressure on Musharraf from Saudi King Abdullah.

But he is barred from running in next Monday's parliamentary election because of criminal convictions handed down after he was ousted by the military takeover that brought Musharraf to power in 1999.

The United States had supported the more pro-Western Benazir Bhutto's return, while ignoring Sharif.

In the past, Sharif used his position in the middle ground to cultivate appeal among religious conservatives and has not spoken out as strongly as Bhutto against Islamist militants.

Bhutto's assassination on Dec. 27 created a wave of sympathy that is expected to help her Pakistan People's Party (PPP) emerge as the largest party in the National Assembly after the vote.

It is not a presidential election, but the outcome could be vital to Musharraf's future.