Sharif names Pakistan return date

[PakForce Unlimited]

Pakistan's exiled former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif will return home on 10 September to challenge President General Pervez Musharraf, he says.

Mr Sharif, deposed by Gen Musharraf in 1999, was speaking in London a week after Pakistan's top court defied the government to rule his return legal.

His announcement comes as former PM Benazir Bhutto claims she is nearing a deal to share power with Gen Musharraf.

Correspondents have said Mr Sharif could still face jail if he goes home.

Mr Sharif said he planned to "start a decisive struggle against dictatorship", adding that Gen Musharraf should step down from the presidency and from his army post.

The former prime minister, who served two terms between 1990 and 1993 and from 1997 to 1999, said it would be "unfortunate" if Ms Bhutto made a deal with Gen Musharraf.

"I disagree with Ms Bhutto's current policy of shaking hands with a dictator," he said.

Referring to an electoral pact he signed with Ms Bhutto last year agreeing to fight Gen Musharraf's rule, he said: "She has given me her word, and she is going back on it."



Gen Musharraf is seeking support for presidential elections that could give him another five-year term.

But he is under pressure to reach a deal with the opposition after several Supreme Court rulings have gone against him.

'Right to return'


Under Pakistani law, prime ministers cannot serve more than two terms - which would disqualify both Ms Bhutto and Mr Sharif.

Ms Bhutto wants this clause removed from constitution, and she says a deal will only be made with Gen Musharraf if he resigns his army role.

The general's spokesman said on Thursday he was considering standing down from his army position, but no decision had yet been made.

Mr Sharif was sentenced to life in prison for offences including tax evasion and treason after the 1999 coup.

Pakistani authorities say Mr Sharif promised to stay out of the country and away from politics for 10 years in exchange for his freedom.

But last week the country's Supreme Court ruled that he and his family had "an inalienable right to return and remain in the country as citizens of Pakistan".

Story from BBC NEWS:
BBC NEWS | South Asia | Sharif names Pakistan return date

Published: 2007/08/30 16:41:22 GMT

 

[PakForce Unlimited]

Under Pakistani law, prime ministers cannot serve more than two terms - which would disqualify both Ms Bhutto and Mr Sharif.

The former prime ministers have to change the law before starting a political campaign.

 

[EagleEyes]

The former prime ministers have to change the law before starting a political campaign.

Which cannot happen. The best they can do is put representatives.

 

[PakForce Unlimited]

Which cannot happen. The best they can do is put representatives.

Agreed, therefor i dont understand why people are celebrating so much in Pakistan and abroad for these former prime ministers "returning" back to Pakistan. Its not like that they are getting back the previous post they had or can run up in the coming elections. The best they can do is lobbying for their political parties.

 

[AgNoStiC MuSliM]

They may not be able to run for prime minister, but is there anything in the law that prevents them from running as an MNA/senator? If not, then they could campaign for those positions, and still rally their supporters around the idea that they would become PM once they get into power, and amend the constitution.

Perhaps PONAM, TI, MMA, MQM, and PML-Q will be able to garner enough votes to deny the PPP and the PML-N the two thirds they need for such an amendment (if Mushy doesn't cave in to BB's demands first). After all, it is entirely in the interest of the other parties to not have Nawaz and BB run on the basis of their "personalities". Perhaps limited contacts can be initiated with other parties on that issue at least. The MQM and PML-Q are definitely dead set against the idea of changing the "no third term" provision, but does anyone have any inkling to what the other parties think?

On a side note, I thought it was quite shameful for parents to organize a rally of 8 to 12 year olds holding placards supporting "Uncle Nawaz Sharif", and having them make statements like, "hamari duaon say Uncle Nawaz Sharif wazir-e-azam banen gay" etc. Quite shameful.

 

[Tiki Tam Tam]

I wonder if the ex PMs would be satisfied with crumbs. They want the plum i.e. the PMship!

If there is no amendment to the law, then there is a possibility that they will organise a public outcry like what the CJ did or was done for him, wherein Musharraf had to give way.

I don't put anything past these two ex PMs.

 

[haviZsultan]

I wonder if the ex PMs would be satisfied with crumbs. They want the plum i.e. the PMship!

If there is no amendment to the law, then there is a possibility that they will organise a public outcry like what the CJ did or was done for him, wherein Musharraf had to give way.

I don't put anything past these two ex PMs.

They can't raise a public outcry because they do not have widespread support from the population... Nawaz we know is corrupt and for Bhutto even the poor people are'nt fooled by the "roti, kapra, makaan" anymore because they know that once she comes to power she will act like a power-crazed beast just like her corrupt father, forefather and coming generations... I mean these people have broken their promises once, the people of Pakistan do not have trust in these politicians anymore so that they can raise a pulic outcry.

If these forsaken people with their lust for power come back to our country i think they both should be either imprisoned for life or hanged.

However if they actually will come back to Pakistan only time will tell. But i do not believe that they can come back very soon because their stained reputation is still vivid in our minds. Maybe as time goes by people will let them come back as memory is short.

 

[Awesome]

He's not coming.

 

[Bull]

He's not coming.

How come you are saying this when the news is al over the media?

 

[dabong1]

Let pakistan have free and honest elections with everybody taking part,including mushy.
There has to be independent observers to make sure that nobody can start complaining about the outcome.

 

[AgNoStiC MuSliM]

Let pakistan have free and honest elections with everybody taking part,including mushy.
There has to be independent observers to make sure that nobody can start complaining about the outcome.

I think that Musharraf has a valid point when he points to instability if these politicians return just before the elections. The have had a halo created around them and their following has become almost cultist. With emotions running high, around the idea of their return, as well as the passion and hotheadedness that surrounds our elections, this could turn nasty.

It also will not be a completely "fair" election because these politicians will use the "emotion, passion and drama", of their return, to completely overshadow the other parties and leaders. It would be a different issue of they had been in the country for a couple of years at least, so that people could calm down and think about their positions on issues rationally.

Independent observers have been present in all elections, they cannot however monitor every single polling station. What we need is some sort of agreement on an autonomous election commission.

 

[Bull]

What happens if Sherif is put on a no fly list by GOP, then he woint be able to board the flight from where ever he is right?

 

[Awesome]

How come you are saying this when the news is al over the media?

Statistics.

They've said this 20 times already. He faces jail time if he comes here, he won't be able to challenge the President's bid for re-election. His advisers won't (shouldn't) let him do it.

 

[Bull]

Statistics.

They've said this 20 times already. He faces jail time if he comes here, he won't be able to challenge the President's bid for re-election. His advisers won't (shouldn't) let him do it.

This is not like last time. Mushraff is under tremendous pressure. Even hariri tried to persuade NZ not the go back to pakistan.

 

[Awesome]

Musharraf just needs to delay things and ride the storm... If NS can't affect the Presidential elections, his visit would bear no fruit. Court proceedings are going to take months. NS faces charges of tax evation, money laundering and not to forget .... TREASON.

There won't be any Saudis to bail him out this time.