Pakistani book claims ‘Nawaz took money from Bin Laden’

Islamabad, Feb 29 (IANS) A new book has claimed that Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif received money from Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden.

The book "Khalid Khawaja: Shaheed-i-Aman", authored by Shamama Khalid, the wife of former Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) operative Khalid Khawaja, claimed that Sharif received money from Bin Laden to contest elections against the Pakistan People's Party (PPP), Dawn online reported on Monday.

"Chief of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Nawaz Sharif received funding from Osama bin Laden, founder of Al-Qaeda, to contest elections against Benazir Bhutto-led PPP after the end of the Zia regime," the book said.

Sharif's pledge of introducing an Islamic system attracted Khalid Khawaja, an ISI officer, and Bin Laden. But even though the Al-Qaeda head honcho funded Sharif heavily, the latter backtracked from all his promises after coming to power, it claimed.

The book also carries a note from former ISI director general, retired Lt. Gen. Hamid Gul, which also claims that Khawaja was very close to Sharif for some time.

It says that Abdullah Azzam, founding member of Al-Qaeda, introduced Khawaja to Bin Laden. Azzam, who is also known as the 'father of global jihad', was a Palestinian Sunni.