Islamabad, Sept 10: Former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was arrested on Monday as soon as he disembarked from the plane in which he came from London after 7 years in exile. He is in the protective custody of Punjab Police. Reports coming in from Islamabad say that he could be taken to his native village for detention.High drama marked his arrival with Sharif refusing to hand over the passport to immigration authorities and continued his defiance on the tarmac
As soon as the PIA aircraft landed, commandos surrounded the plane. A senior army officer along with a group of officials was seen entering the plane for discussing various "options" with the PML-N leader.
The 57-year-old leader was not allowed to disembark while all other passengers were allowed to do so.
Immigration authorities asked Sharif to hand them over his passport but he refused to do so, journalists travelling with Sharif from London, said.
Cabinet Ministers say that Sharif will be given an option of being deported to Jeddah or being jailed.
Journalists on board the plane said Sharif prefers remaining in Pakistan instead of being deported. PML-N leader and Nawaz`s son, Hasan Sharif said, "The government is in total chaos in respect of what to do with him. Of course we are hearing conflicting reports that he will be arrested or he will deported or he will be allowed to go to Lahore. I think it is important time for everybody.
"He is the leader of a big party, he has got support from lot of Pakistanis waiting for him to come out of the Islamabad Airport," he said.
There was undeclared curfew at the Islamabad airport and outside areas with security forces closing all roads to the airport and arresting top opposition leaders and hundreds of activists.
Sharif`s return is a serious challenge for Musharraf, who has lost much support since trying to dismiss the country`s top judge in March.
It comes as Musharraf is preparing to try to secure another term in a Presidential election by the national and provincial assemblies some time between Sept. 15 and Oct. 15.
A general election is due around the end of the year.
"This opportunity will not come again... it is rarely that such opportunities arise. The whole country should take advantage of this opportunity and 160 million people must get their rights back. I have no other agenda, this is my agenda. This is the vision in my mind and this is my mission," he said before leaving for Pakistan.
Uniformed British police escorted him through a crowd of supporters on his way to the flight at London`s Heathrow airport.
In Pakistan, authorities tightened security at Islamabad`s airport and detained more than 2,000 Sharif supporters, his party said on Sunday, the eve of his arrival.
A provincial police official said 250 "trouble makers" had been picked up.
A security high alert was declared at the airport which was largely sealed off.
His brother Shahbaz Sharif made a last minute change in the plan and stayed back.
Sharif plans to lead a procession the 300 km (200 miles) from Islamabad to Lahore, the capital of Punjab province, and is expected to draw huge crowds -- the last thing Musharraf wants as he prepares to try to secure another term in a Presidential election.
Musharraf sent Sharif to Saudi Arabia in 2000 as part of what the government says was an agreement that Sharif would stay in exile for 10 years. In return, he avoided a life sentence on hijacking and corruption charges. Sharif said he understood the agreement was for five years exile.
The Supreme Court last month said Sharif had the right to return and the government should not try to stop him. The government has not said what it will do when Sharif lands. He faces the possibility of arrest on graft charges as he steps off his aircraft in Islamabad, or even deportation. The former Prime Minister said he expected the government to respect the Supreme Court decision.
Source : www.zeenews.com
0 comments:
Post a Comment