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?
I have a lot of indian colleagues , and we have discussions everyday , and I feel so proud when I tell them Pakistani people are fighting for their rights, we are not a society whom someone gifted the fundamental rights in plate , in fact we stand in the league of great nations like America, Britain, France where civil society struggled and sacrificed to achieve their fundamental rights. We understand the meaning of “Freedom of expression” because a dictator took it away from us, we understand the meaning of “Rule of Law” because a dictator dismissed our whole supreme court , we understand the meaning of “freedom of movement/assembly” because a dictator snatched that right from us. And we are fighting for these rights and we are proud of this struggle. And when we get our fundamental right we will know they are earned by us and we deserve them. No colonial ruler gave us these rights in plate while giving us freedom :).
RE:
There is absolutely no need to be respectful to the ruler. This is the 21st century not the God damn 10th century. Let people earn respect and let it not be thrust upon them just because they are rulers.
I prefer calling him mad general , ala Madness of King George , The reality is that he is the most ruthless dictator in the history of Pakistan. You may want to watch this documentary
http://www.pbs.org/frontlineworld/rough/2007/09/fl wrc58.html?&c=3wm
to have an idea.
I would respect anyone who will rule in Pakistan, I can disagree with them. But we must be respectful to the ruler of Pakistan. My wife was in some school event in California for our kids. There was one indian guy who came with his kids. Asked my wife about Pakistan situation and all he was saying , Oh Mushraf took so much money from USA. He is this and that. My wife told him shut up , Mushraf is smart so he was able to take money and use it for good of Pakistan.
This is the mind set of the people who dislike Pakistan. Or Can not stand Pakistan improving,.I smell all that in many people on this board .
RE:
Nobody deserves respect because oh his position. Only actions can earn one respect.