Dr. Nasim Ashraf’s Revelations in His Book “Rang Side” on US Intervention and Other Political Affairs

Dr. Nasim Ashraf, former Chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board and ex-chairman of the National Commission for Human Development, has revealed shocking details in his new book *Rang Side*. Among the key revelations, he claims that former US President Bill Clinton secretly met with the then Chief Justice of Pakistan to ensure that ex-Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif would not be executed following the 1999 coup.
Dr. Ashraf disclosed that despite the US State Department advising against President Clinton’s visit to Pakistan, Clinton proceeded to travel to Pakistan for a few hours solely to intervene in Nawaz Sharif’s fate. The meeting with Chief Justice Irshad Hassan Khan took place discreetly when both figures happened to meet in the washroom during a presidential lunch, where Clinton sought reassurance that Nawaz Sharif would not be hanged.
The book further delves into various aspects of Pakistan’s political history, including the political decisions made during General Pervez Musharraf’s regime. Dr. Ashraf reflects on the positive and negative aspects of Pakistan’s relationship with the US, particularly during the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks. He notes that despite the challenges, General Musharraf’s government cooperated with the US, agreeing to 5 out of 7 of the demands made by the US, recognizing that rejecting these demands could have led to Pakistan’s economic collapse.
In the book, Dr. Ashraf also credits the successful US visit by Prime Minister Imran Khan in 2019, which strengthened Pakistan-US ties. He praises the work done by Dr. Musaddiq Malik, who left a lucrative job in the US to serve Pakistan, calling him a true patriot. Additionally, he writes about his challenges during his tenure at the National Commission for Human Development, emphasizing how the commission made notable contributions in education and poverty alleviation despite facing considerable obstacles.
On the cricket front, Dr. Ashraf mentions the establishment of 19 cricket stadiums across Pakistan during his tenure at the PCB, despite facing numerous challenges. He also discusses the controversial Oval Test incident, where Pakistani players initially refused to play, but later, with General Musharraf’s intervention, the match went ahead after the umpires initially rejected it.
Dr. Ashraf’s book also touches upon broader geopolitical issues, such as the potential recognition of Israel during Musharraf’s tenure, a topic that was quietly explored behind the scenes. His book is set to be launched in Peshawar, with other launch events scheduled across Pakistan.