In a dramatic development today, former prime minister and exiled PML(N) leader Nawaz Sharif has been deported to Saudi Arabia. Sharif, who announced his return to Pakistan earlier this month after seven years of exile, was sent back to Saudi Arabia just few hours after his arrival in Pakistan.
He spent around 4 hours at airport, negotiating with Saudi and Pakistani officials. Deportation was certainly one of the options that Government of Pakistan had but not many analysts believed that they would actually go ahead with it. Till the last minute, it appeared from electronic media coverage of the event that Nawaz Sharif will be arrested and jailed and even the arrest warrants were produced and charges were handed over to Nawaz Sharif. We saw visuals of his arrest in which he was man-handled by police officials. But then we heard in a dramatic manner that he is being sent back to Saudi Arabia in a special PIA flight. Now we will see another legal battle if this action is a contempt of Supreme Court of Pakistan’s verdict on Nawaz Sharif’s return in August.
Geo website has this report on the event:
Former Prime Minister Mian Nawaz Sharif was sent back into exile Monday. According to reports he has been sent to Saudi Arabia in a special airplane. Earlier, the flight of former prime minister Mian Nawaz Sharif was landed at Islamabad Airport at the scheduled time of 8:42 am Monday morning. The military and security forces troops were deployed at Islamabad airport. In Islamabad, Police and PML-N workers were engaged in hide and seek and scuffles at various places.
Media men were restricted to parking lot of the airport as the airplane of former prime minister landed at the airport. The interior ministry officials and other top officials of the government were present at the airport on the occasion. Mian Nawaz Sharif traveled in the Club Class from London to Islamabad and before landing at Islamabad he went to the economy class to join the party workers.
Geo News correspondent Azhar Javed who was accompanied with Nawaz Sharif in air journey to Islamabad reported that Muslim League workers surrounded their leader and chanted slogans. Mian Nawaz Sharif later taken out of the airplane from backdoor. A flying coach was parked near the plane, which was cordoned off by the police commandoes, Azhar Javed reported. The former prime minister left the plane after 90 minutes and held talks with the government of Pakistan officials and Saudi government representatives. The matter of his returning back into exile to Saudi Arabia was also discussed but Nawaz Sharif opted to be arrested at home instead of going back into exile.
Later he was detained and sent back to Jeddah by a special airplane.
This entire episode raises many questions in the minds of ordinary Pakistanis. Is this violation of SC order? Why didn’t government just arrest him and put him on trial, if there are any cases against him? What will happen now in court and does this mean that government is going ahead with direct confrontation with superior courts? And what it would mean to already growing confrontation between Army and the civil society? We really don’t know. All we can hope, as an ordinary Pakistani, that may Allah have mercy on Pakistan. I am NO fan of Nawaz, Benazir or most of our politicians because of their past performances but I would rather see people of Pakistan deciding their fate through power of ballet and vote and NOT some individuals sitting in President’s House making decisions. I do not see anything good coming out today’s actions and I think its a big setback to rule of law.
One of ATP reader, Saleem A. Taimoor, made a very valid and appropriate comment on my earlier post on Nawaz Sharif return and I personally share his views. Situation in Pakistan today concludes following:
1. Army has been put in direct confrontation with the civil society.
2. People hate to see green lawns and swimming pools inside the army cantonments as well Mercedes for generals on the streets; where over 40% of the people can’t have one day meal, this new elite is eating up all resources – look at the Defense Housing Authorities, posh livnig styles of the army officers and their families, best schools and hospitals run at Income tax payers money; hate has gone deep within the masses for the army not for the general alone. Musharraf has pulled the army in this quagmire.
3. Tens (if not hundreds) of soldiers have died in armed clashes with civilians and in bomb blasts.
4. Media and the judiciary are being put to test with oppressive measures.
5. Government is ready to take on the judiciary now (starting with today’s deportation of Nawaz). Executive is not ready to obey the judiciary.
6. Youth is getting disconnected with Pakistan – all running around for safe havens abroad or for grabbing too much money to join the elite – the social fabric is quickly disintegrating.
7. The parliament is full of people who are unable to comprehend the social disintegration we are going through.
I am sure there are thousands of others who share the same views. Whether you like or dislike Nawaz Sharif or Benazir, both of them should be free to return to this country and allowed to face any charges against them. It is the people of Pakistan who should decide who they want to elect as their representatives and not some army generals who decide our fate in the name of national security. We want Pakistan to be a Social Welfare State and which was the dream of its founding fathers and NOT a National Security State which, unfortunately, it has become now.
As Adnan Siddiqi rightly pointed out in his blog post, there is a sad and brutal side of this story too. Nawaz Sharif landed, arrested and deported. Musharraf stayed in his office while Nawaz either stayed in plane or in lounge then forced to go back to Saudia. All were having fun time. Who suffered then?See yourself?
May Allah have mercy on Pakistan and its 160 million citizens and give our rulers wisdom to make the right decisions. Ameen.
Usman….i think..we all pakistanis should write a letter to President World Bank…to send us some Moin Qureshi…as we dont need politicians…..!!!!! am i right….
NS always said that agreement is between saudia and him…not between Dictator and him….
SC of Pakistan has thrown this “agreement” into trash bin….mind it….
such papers are found in “galli mohalla” of every street ..or Lahore secretariat outside type writers old men…!!
If NS is not innocent..who the hell is the Dictator to decide that..he is innocent or not….are honurable courts of Pakistan are dozzing !!!!
1. Mr Sharief made an out of court agreement to run away from jail and he should abide by it. 10 years term is too short!!
2. Mr Sharief did not mention that the exile contract was of 5 years in last 7 years and now suddenly he remembers that!!, wao, he must be watching alot of indian movies recently.
3. The court only said ‘Mr. Sharief’ can return to Pakistan anytime he likes as he is a Pakistani national does not mean that Mr.Sharief is innocent and free of charges!
Whole situation is caused by Chief justice who fell short of stating that Mr.Sharief will be prosecuted and sent to jail for corruption charges, (how terrible and hippocratic !).
3. According to Pakistan’s law one can only be PimeMinister for 2 terms and Mr Sharief wants that law to be changed so he can have another term. How lawfull is that!!
We should have no tolerence for either Nawaz, Benazier or Altaf !!
This is a question of our self respect (maybe new word for some of you) as a Nation. It is a choice between imperial agents (BB and Mush) and Nationalist forces. We Pakis have shown that we are even willing to accept some limited dictatorship as long as we don’t give up our self respect, and become tools in the hands of others. But time and again we have seen that dictatorships succumb to pressures from the outside, because of lack of public support, and are so easily manipulated by the imperialists. And the people have no chance of voicing their opinion as any form of resistance is curbed, and manipulation of the system takes care of the rest.
Hence the choice is clear; do we want Pakistan to be run by Imperial agents, or do we want to rise as a Nation and get our self respect back.
What a mess!
Lying ?Leaders?, Autocratic, dictatorial rulers, na?ve and stupid politicians, a gaggle of self serving hangers on, a confused public totally at a loss and out of touch with reality! Wonder how much more harm will they all do to the country and nation of Pakistan.
How many dreams did the people have, what grand aspirations, how much potential ? all brought to nought by these selfish, small minded so called politicians and servants of the nation!
SHAME, at least in my heart and mind. I hang my head in shame and cry tears of sorrow and hurt
On one side, the? GREAT? leader, the saviour, the liberator; on the other the torch bearer of hope for a moderate, enlightened prosperous society. BOTH a big let down and a failure
Mr Sharif (Can we call him Sharif ? which means well behaved, law abiding, truthful and much more) kept lying through his teeth for seven years, There was no deal, he did not sign any agreement, there was no document. While the truth was that he did agree or commit to a voluntary exile and to not participating in politics in exchange for release from prison and a comfortable sojourn. When finally confronted, he lied some more and showed his immaturity, political naivet? and total lack of the impact of his behaviour and actions. To add insult to injury he turned around and accused the honourable interlocutors in the deal of lying. How low can one get!
Does he not realize that he has created a problem for himself with the two most important countries for Pakistan, IF he ever gets back into power (May this NEVER happen). He himself admitted that he is no friends with President Bush and his stance and behaviour must surely have not gone well with Saudi Arabia.
And our masses and the public: what short memories they have. Egged on by demagogues, living on slogans, empty promises and emotions and ruled by passions. Having No understanding of issues, politics, and realities on the ground, history and personalities. Are they to be sympathized with or pitied? It is said that a nation gets the leaders it deserves. How true.
Now to the other protagonist. So much talk of reconciliation, of moderation, of providing a level field to all parties, of free and fair elections; That is what it all turned out to be ? JUST talk! Agreed, that there was an agreement, that there were cases (real or trumped up) against Mr. Sharif. What was the need for these strong arm tactics, this behaving like a ?Dadageer?, of a mobster mentality, of uncalled for, unjustified and unreasonable force and arrests and harassment of the party workers? Why not show some clemency, generosity, kindness and let Mr. Sharif stay and face the cases against him in the courts of law
President Musharraf is a military man and more ever he had been in the artillery as a points man. He should know where to shoot, how to aim. But all his actions have resulted in his shooting himself in the foot! He has harmed himself, destroyed his own image made himself more unpopular while making Sharif more popular and accepted ? a martyr, some one wronged, the underdog and oppressed
His advisers and the hangers on and sycophants around him must be the most dim witted people. Or is it that they have their own hidden agenda and working to topple him. Is it that only stupid people get into politics in Pakistan or that it is that it is the result of being active in politics and something of an occupational hazard that one loses all sense and wisdom.
I wonder what psychedelic ingredient is ther in their lumches, dinners and unending cups of tea that makes the,m behave like zombies and morons. THAT has got to be the only explanatioopn!oo
I feel more hurt, betrayed and frustrated because I was an ardent supporter of President Musharraf. I honestly thought that he presented a real hope for Pakistan, that he was sincere, patriotic and a person of integrity. The actions and steps that he has taken (or advised to take) have shattered that image. The CJ affair, the May 12 Karachi fiasco, the behind the scene manoeuvres and efforts for a ?Deal? with Benazir, the Sharif affair. And all that while ignoring his own party and allies. It certainly appears that all this is just for personal gains and remaining in power by any means ?fair or foul and at what ever cost to the system, nation and country
I have come to believe that the Pakistanis have a built in self destruction mechanism. We do not need any enemies, any external trigger; they implode on their own at the most inopportune time, when they have reached a take off stage or have made progress. This is true in every field, be it Politics, Economics, Sports, Institutional or Social affairs
May Allah save Pakistan and Pakistanis!
Well done dude, busted amer ul momanieen sherif to Saudi. I think sherif should honur his words because he was dreaming to be ameer of all Paki power.
God bless Pak Army and protect the Pakistan from greedy sherif and Baynazir.