If Sharif returns, his pardon would be revoked: Musharraf
"I have no fears of any kind from any quarters..." says Pakistani Premiere Pervez Musharraf.
By PTI |
ISLAMABAD: If former Prime Minister in exile Nawaz Sharif chose to return to Pakistan, the grounds forming the very basis of the pact under which he was awarded pardon would be revoked, President Pervez Musharraf has said.
"I have no fears of any kind from any quarters. I will not take any dictation in this regard from any quarters, including the West," 'The News' reported on Saturday, quoting the President as saying.
"Sharif family left the country by striking a deal with the government and the document had the signatures of all members of the Sharif family. And we will present the document anywhere and anytime we deem necessary," Musharraf claimed.
He, however, said he would respect any decision given by the Supreme Court regarding the case of the Sharif family. The deposed Premier and his brother Shahbaz Sharif recently filed petitions before the apex court seeking judicial directive to the government not to obstruct their return home from their "forced exile" and permit them to take part in the general elections slated for later this year.
The Sharif brothers have also denied any deal with the government in their latest petition. Though the Supreme Court on Thursday said that "Shahbaz Sharif is free to come back to the country", a five-judge bench headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar.
Musharraf had toppled Sharif's elected government in a bloodless coup in 1999. Both Sharif and his brother were arrested and charged with plotting to assassinate Musharraf.
Subsequently in 2000, the Sharif brothers along with several of their family members were exiled to Jeddah, which the Musharraf government says was part of a deal it had reached with the former PM and the Saudi Royal Family.
Shahbaz Sharif had tried to return to Pakistan in 2004, after the Supreme Court had ruled that he was free to come back to his homeland. But he was detained by authorities when he had arrived in Lahore and was put on a plane out of the Islamic nation the same day.
"I have no fears of any kind from any quarters. I will not take any dictation in this regard from any quarters, including the West," 'The News' reported on Saturday, quoting the President as saying.
"Sharif family left the country by striking a deal with the government and the document had the signatures of all members of the Sharif family. And we will present the document anywhere and anytime we deem necessary," Musharraf claimed.
He, however, said he would respect any decision given by the Supreme Court regarding the case of the Sharif family. The deposed Premier and his brother Shahbaz Sharif recently filed petitions before the apex court seeking judicial directive to the government not to obstruct their return home from their "forced exile" and permit them to take part in the general elections slated for later this year.
The Sharif brothers have also denied any deal with the government in their latest petition. Though the Supreme Court on Thursday said that "Shahbaz Sharif is free to come back to the country", a five-judge bench headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar.
Musharraf had toppled Sharif's elected government in a bloodless coup in 1999. Both Sharif and his brother were arrested and charged with plotting to assassinate Musharraf.
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Subsequently in 2000, the Sharif brothers along with several of their family members were exiled to Jeddah, which the Musharraf government says was part of a deal it had reached with the former PM and the Saudi Royal Family.
Shahbaz Sharif had tried to return to Pakistan in 2004, after the Supreme Court had ruled that he was free to come back to his homeland. But he was detained by authorities when he had arrived in Lahore and was put on a plane out of the Islamic nation the same day.
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