‘New Deal’: Nawaz Sharif Returns to Pakistan. Now What? So What?

Posted on November 25, 2007
Filed Under >Adil Najam, People, Politics
217 Comments
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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 means 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?

217 responses to “‘New Deal’: Nawaz Sharif Returns to Pakistan. Now What? So What?”

  1. Viqar Minai says:

    Interesting piece on Pakistan’s situation by Pepe Escobar in Asia-Times online:

    http://tinyurl.com/24aowt

    Interesting/scary points:

    – mentions possiblity of partitioning of Pakistan
    – says admiral Fallon wanted to conduct US led war in the tribal areas in both Afghanistan and Pak.
    – says Americans are focussing on Gen. Kiani as the new “our man” in Islamabad
    – gives BB a big thumbs down.

  2. pejamistri says:

    I missed the last speech of mad general , but seems he was of rhetoric.
    I WANT TO CONGRATULATE WHOLE NATION FOR THEIR SUCCESSFUL STRUGGLE TO THROW A MAD GENERAL OUT OF ARMY.
    This is the biggest achievment, but our struggle is going on and our next milestone will be restoration of judiciary and constitution.

    Kat tay bhee chaloo , barhtay bhee chaloo
    bazoo bhee buhat hain, sar bhee buhat
    chal tay bhee chaloo kay ab deray
    manzil hee per dalay jain gay

  3. RE says:

    Proud of Mushraf he spoke like a true Pakistani. Allah bless Mushraf and Pakistan.

  4. RE says:

    Understanding Non-Muslims
    Best way to understand them is to put yourself in their shoes and imagine Pakistani nukes in the hands of Extremists. Hopefully this will never happen.
    Our army is capable of protecting them also its important we as a nation change our acts. Our acts should show the pride of a stable nation with nukes. We should respect other religions. If one like to preach religion then preach it with you proper acts.
    Allah Bless Pakistan

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