Uncertain future awaits Sharif back home
The Pakistani government on Sunday braced itself for a confrontation with a defiant Nawaz Sharif, who is sticking to his plan to return home on Monday.
By PTI |
LONDON/ISLAMABAD: The Pakistani government on Sunday braced itself for a confrontation with a defiant Nawaz Sharif, who is sticking to his plan to return home on Monday after a seven-year exile, ignoring international appeals as the former premier faces the prospect of deportation or arrest.
Pakistan sounded a high alert at airports, clamped prohibitory orders and detained hundreds of activists of Mr Sharif’s party — Pakistan Muslim League (N) — even as 57-year-old Sharif prepared to return home to “play his part in Pakistani politics” to challenge General Musharraf, whom he called a “reckless, impulsive dictator.”
Mr Sharif, along with his brother Shabaz, is due to fly into Islamabad from London via Muscat at 11.45 am (Pakistan time), his spokesman said in London. The government has not officially announced any specific plan to deal with the Sharif brothers, but says it will act under the law.
Amid Pakistani media reports that Mr Sharif will be deported immediately after his arrival, Saudi Arabia has offered to keep the Sharif brothers in exile again. They had spent six years in the Kingdom after they went in exile in 2000 before shifting to London.
Geo TV reported that a plane of an Arab country will reach Islamabad airport as part of government plans to deport them. Talking tough, Mr Sharif dismissed the talk of deportation, saying in an interview to NDTV before leaving London that General Musharraf “dare” not do this since there is no justification or any reason for him to resort to this option.
Authorities in Islamabad plan to seal all main roads to Islamabad’s international airport to stop people from welcoming Mr Sharif. A PML (N) leader, Ahsan Iqbal, said in Islamabad that their activists would reach the airport despite the crackdown by the government, and that they would not allow the plane to take off in the event of Mr Sharif’s deportation.
Saudi Arabia’s intelligence chief and the influential son of assassinated former Lebanese premier Rafiq Hariri this week-end joined calls for Mr Sharif to scrap his plans to return home.
Regarding the arrest option, media reports said a cell in a centuries-old fort in Attock in Punjab has been prepared for his possible arrival. The government has also re-opened corruption cases against Mr Sharif, and reports suggest that he may be arrested on the same cases.
Information minister Muhammed Ali Durrani said Mr Sharif should respect his commitment to the most revered Muslim country (Saudia Arabia) and its leadership, and complete 10 years in exile. PML (N) spokesman in London Nadir Chaudhry said around 60 foreign and local journalists and cameramen are accompanying Mr Sharif on his flight from London. The former prime minister was arrested and sentenced for life imprisonment on charges of hijacking, terrorism, corruption and misuse of power. He was pardoned on the condition of living in exile. The Supreme Court last month ordered that Mr Sharif can return to the country and can take part in politics.
Local media also reported that Mr Sharif’s plane is likely to be diverted to international airport at Quetta, the capital of southwestern Balochistan province. His planned arrival comes at a time when Pakistan awaits return of another former premier Benazir Ali Bhutto from her self-imposed exile. Meanwhile, the New York-based Human Rights Watch said General Musharraf should immediately release jailed political activists, and also urged international powers, particularly the US, to pressure Mr Musharraf to desist from prosecuting opponents.
“Rights-respecting leaders don’t lock up hundreds of people, who merely want to participate in their country’s political process,” said Ali Dayan Hasan, South Asia researcher at Human Rights Watch. PML (N) activists have been arrested under various provisions of the Maintenance of Public Order Act, the Anti-Terrorism Act or simply detained without charge.
“If Musharraf is serious about human rights, the rule of law and a return to democracy, he needs to allow due process and respect independent court decisions,” said Mr Hasan.
Pakistan sounded a high alert at airports, clamped prohibitory orders and detained hundreds of activists of Mr Sharif’s party — Pakistan Muslim League (N) — even as 57-year-old Sharif prepared to return home to “play his part in Pakistani politics” to challenge General Musharraf, whom he called a “reckless, impulsive dictator.”
Mr Sharif, along with his brother Shabaz, is due to fly into Islamabad from London via Muscat at 11.45 am (Pakistan time), his spokesman said in London. The government has not officially announced any specific plan to deal with the Sharif brothers, but says it will act under the law.
Amid Pakistani media reports that Mr Sharif will be deported immediately after his arrival, Saudi Arabia has offered to keep the Sharif brothers in exile again. They had spent six years in the Kingdom after they went in exile in 2000 before shifting to London.
Geo TV reported that a plane of an Arab country will reach Islamabad airport as part of government plans to deport them. Talking tough, Mr Sharif dismissed the talk of deportation, saying in an interview to NDTV before leaving London that General Musharraf “dare” not do this since there is no justification or any reason for him to resort to this option.
Authorities in Islamabad plan to seal all main roads to Islamabad’s international airport to stop people from welcoming Mr Sharif. A PML (N) leader, Ahsan Iqbal, said in Islamabad that their activists would reach the airport despite the crackdown by the government, and that they would not allow the plane to take off in the event of Mr Sharif’s deportation.
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Saudi Arabia’s intelligence chief and the influential son of assassinated former Lebanese premier Rafiq Hariri this week-end joined calls for Mr Sharif to scrap his plans to return home.
Regarding the arrest option, media reports said a cell in a centuries-old fort in Attock in Punjab has been prepared for his possible arrival. The government has also re-opened corruption cases against Mr Sharif, and reports suggest that he may be arrested on the same cases.
Information minister Muhammed Ali Durrani said Mr Sharif should respect his commitment to the most revered Muslim country (Saudia Arabia) and its leadership, and complete 10 years in exile. PML (N) spokesman in London Nadir Chaudhry said around 60 foreign and local journalists and cameramen are accompanying Mr Sharif on his flight from London. The former prime minister was arrested and sentenced for life imprisonment on charges of hijacking, terrorism, corruption and misuse of power. He was pardoned on the condition of living in exile. The Supreme Court last month ordered that Mr Sharif can return to the country and can take part in politics.
Local media also reported that Mr Sharif’s plane is likely to be diverted to international airport at Quetta, the capital of southwestern Balochistan province. His planned arrival comes at a time when Pakistan awaits return of another former premier Benazir Ali Bhutto from her self-imposed exile. Meanwhile, the New York-based Human Rights Watch said General Musharraf should immediately release jailed political activists, and also urged international powers, particularly the US, to pressure Mr Musharraf to desist from prosecuting opponents.
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“Rights-respecting leaders don’t lock up hundreds of people, who merely want to participate in their country’s political process,” said Ali Dayan Hasan, South Asia researcher at Human Rights Watch. PML (N) activists have been arrested under various provisions of the Maintenance of Public Order Act, the Anti-Terrorism Act or simply detained without charge.
“If Musharraf is serious about human rights, the rule of law and a return to democracy, he needs to allow due process and respect independent court decisions,” said Mr Hasan.
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“The US should make it clear to Musharraf that ignoring his repression of political opponents in exchange for co-operation in the ‘war on terror’ is no longer acceptable,” he added.Download
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