Adil Najam
Former Prime Minister and PML(N) leader Nawaz Sharif is back in Pakistan.
Reportedly he landed in Lahore to a large reception by his supporters and was escorted to a special bullet proof car that had been brought for him. According to The News:
A special plane carrying the PML-N Chief Nawaz Sharif, his brother Shahbaz Sharif and other family members arrived in Lahore from the holy city of Madina on Sunday evening. The convoys of PML-N workers arrived in Lahore to accord rousing welcome to Sharifs. Large welcome banners and pictures of Sharif brothers have been displayed at several places in Lahore. The special plane Boeing777 carried Nawaz Sharif and Shahbaz Sharif along with 26 members of their family from the holy city of Madina.
The central and provincial leaders of PML-N, lawyers and members of civil society have arrived to receive Sharifs at Lahore Airport. Nawaz Sharif is expected to first visit Data Darbar in a procession and address a public meeting. Security had been tightened in Lahore especially on the airport ahead of arrival of the PML-N leader. Provincial home department has allowed only hundred party leaders to receive Sharifs at the airport, party sources claimed.
According to sources, bullet-proof cars for Sharifs reached in Lahore last night from Saudi Arabia. Meanwhile, the home department said that the authorities have decided to give free hand to Nawaz Sharif but he has not been permitted for holding a public meeting and rally.
Nawaz Sharif, Shahbaz Sharif and other family members will be transported to home from the airport, a home department statement said. However, thousands of PML-N workers succeeded in arriving airport by crossing the barricades put up by police. On this occasion, the workers raised slogans both in favour of Nawaz Sharif and against the government.
Readers would remember from our prior posts that in August the Supreme Court of Pakistan had ruled that he could, in fact, return to Pakistan despite whatever ‘deal’ he had made with Gen. Musharraf at teh time of his original flight to Saudi Arabia. However, when he did return to the country in September, he was unceremoniously and dramatically deported back to Saudi Arabia with theatrics which rivaled his own attempts not to let Gen. Musharraf land in Pakistan many moons ago.
Now it turns out that he has made yet another ‘deal’ with Gen. Musharraf which has enabled his return.
It is not fully clear what the ‘terms’ of this deal are. Nor what the Musharraf-Nawaz Sharif deal mean
s for the earlier Musharraf-Benazir deal that had enabled her return some weeks back. Nor, in fact, is it clear what what his return (and the fact that now both Benazir and Nawaz Sharif are back in Pakistan) will mean for the future of Pakistan’s politics and the (supposed) forthcoming elections.
In despair, one even wonders if it means anything at all? Or is this just one more drama in the string of topi dramas that have come to define our distraught and fractured polity?
KAWA
Mushraf brought in 11 billion dollars to Pakistan. I doubt it that he has deposited any money in his swiss accounts or even he has any swiss accounts. Pakistani people have no idea , Imagine supporting old farts who stole money from Pakistan. So rating of Mushraf does not count in Pakistan, People like you can not understand this why blame uncivilized population of Pakistan. No mean to offend you but this is the truth.
We are talking about Pakistan here. Even a prophet will have to brake rules to bring Pakistan back to normal. Many people in Pakistan are not thinking with 2007 reality. Before we blame Mushraf look what we have? We are back to old politicians , Have not produced new politicians who is credible?
Allah Bless Pakistan ( prayers needed)
Up until now General Ashfaq Kiani presents a very professional outlook, yet Musharraf seemed quite professional too at one time.
The Generals standing has gone down in single digits in Pakistan. It can safely be said that he is the most despised Military ruler today in the history of Pakistan. His standing among the officer ranks of our armed forces is also at it’s lowest.
The man had rediculed the constitution of our country like no other dictator in recent history, switching hats from general to President and vice versa. His twisted mind no longer knows what he is doing or what he has done so far.. The man is just obsessed with one thing and that is to hang on to power come what may be, even at the cost of disintegrating the country!
I don’t have a crystal ball but Musharraf will be the FIRST General to see gallows of Attock jail unless he escapes out of the country…
I personally like Shahbaz Sharif. He does the job.
Here once again
Imran Khan