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Real estate tycoon and close confidant of President Zardari, Malik Riaz has claimed that Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) chief Nawaz Sharif was offered half of the term in the government during early 2010, but he did not agree to it. Riaz said the proposal was to get Nawaz Sharif, Shahbaz Sharif or Ishaq Dar as the prime minister replacing Yousuf Raza Gilani, reports The News. "We have been negotiating for almost months but the PML-N did not agree to this," he said, adding that there was no pre-condition involved in the offer. Riaz said he held meetings with the Sharif brothers and Ishaq Dar to convince them to become the prime minister and even take their choice of cabinet slots. The PML-N, he said, was offered to rule the second half of the five-year term. They, however, did not accept the offer, leaving the government with no option but to join hands with the PML-Q, he said. Riaz said that besides Pakistan , these power-sharing negotiations were also held in London during Nawaz Sharif's foreign visits. He said that none of the three top PML-N leaders could deny what had been discussed between them in early 2010. Riaz maintained that he has been playing key role in the making of governments in Pakistan during the last few decades.

Zardari offered PM's post to Sharif in 2010: Malik Riaz