ISLAMABAD -  Former president Asif Ali Zardari on Wednesday said that meeting ousted prime minister would be tantamount to becoming part of an “anti-state conspiracy”.

The Pakistan People's Party (PPP) leader said that by declaring judicial verdict as judges’ anger, Nawaz Sharif had "exposed his anti-democratic agenda and it validates PPP stance that in [the] prevailing situation holding a meeting with Nawaz Sharif or any cooperation with him, will mean to become his collaborator in his anti-state conspiracy."

Zardari, while addressing a party meeting here, said that Nawaz Sharif was playing a “double game” with the nation.

"On the one hand, his brother [Punjab Chief Minister] Shehbaz Sharif and federal ministers issue statement[s] against me and on the other [hand] send messages to me for a meeting," the PPP leader said.

The former president said that the nation was aware that he had never been a part of any conspiracy against democracy.

"Nawaz Sharif, by attacking judges has exposed himself before the nation. Nawaz Sharif thinks himself above the law and accountability. He tried to control armed forces and when he did not succeed, he asked his ministers to issue statements against armed forces. He also tried to blackmail judiciary but after failing in his effort, he and his cronies started attacking judges," Zardari said.

Earlier, the former president’s close aides had hinted he could consider "forgiving" Sharif, if he showed remorse.

Senior PPP leaders said that although Zardari wanted to stay away from Sharif for the time being, “an apology can still do the trick” that is result in a Zardari-Sharif meeting.

Sharif was disqualified on July 28th by the Supreme Court. The ousted PM is now facing corruption charges filed against him by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB).

Zardari has a love-hate relationship with Sharif.

They have reconciled and fought after the revival of democracy in 2008.

Sharif’s Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) became a part of the PPP-led government in 2008 but left within months after developing differences.

The PPP continued to remain part of the Punjab provincial government led by the PML-N for much longer until being asked to quit by Sharif’s party.

When Zardari was struggling to clear his position after a controversial speech in June 2015, Sharif - as the prime minister – cancelled a scheduled meeting with the PPP co-chairman.

This led to a new phase of rivalry as Zardari announced to give up the reconciliation policy and take on the government.

Last week, Zardari had told his close aides that the PPP would stand with the institutions amid Nawaz Sharif’s struggle to prove his innocence after ouster for hiding assets.

Zardari has also recently refused Sharif’s indirect call for help.

Over the weekend, the PPP’s Opposition Leader Khurshid Shah said the PPP would not help Sharif under any circumstances.

Zardari alleged that Nawaz Sharif was “promoting foreign agenda”, and the PPP would never allow any of his conspiracies to succeed, and would soon issue a charge sheet against Nawaz Sharif for his anti-democracy policies.

The PPP leader said that it was ironic that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan did not accept his warrants and Nawaz Sharif did not accept court verdict but both "give daily sermons about  the constitution and [the] rule of law."