Pakistan Muslim League-N Chief has slammed the US over interfering in his country's internal matter of Pervez Musharraf's impeachment.

Impeachment of Musharraf was Pakistan's internal matter and the United States was intervening in Pakistan's sovereignty, NDTV quoted Nawaz Sharif as saying.

Sharif also repeated his stance while addressing the people in Lahore on Thursday and rejected the US backdoor diplomacy of "graceful exit" for Musharraf, saying that the beleaguered President should not be given "safe passage" even if he steps down.

"This is an impeachment of the dictatorship that sold out Pakistan's sovereignty, violated the constitution repeatedly and gave the people poverty" said Sharif, who was speaking on the occasion of Pakistan's Independence Day.

"Should a person who has reduced Pakistan to this condition be given safe passage? They (US officials) ask for safe passage after breaking the law and violating the constitution, selling out the country's sovereignty," he said.

Sharif had earlier said that his country would not be allowed to become a colony of the United States, according to the news.

Some analyst say Sharif has stepped up his political rhetoric against the US during the recent months as he believes Pakistan problems remain as long as the US meddles in the country's internal affairs.

Earlier, Premier Seyed Yousuf Raza Gilani had also criticized the US over throwing support behind the dictators in the country.

Political experts say after decades of partnership the US-Pakistan ties are under strain, and have reached their lowest level. The two countries have been remained at odds since some past months over a host of issues including the militancy and the so-called war on terror.

JR/DT