The Hindu : International : I will return to Pakistan on September 10: Nawaz Sharif

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Friday, Aug 31, 2007
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I will return to Pakistan on September 10: Nawaz Sharif

Nirupama Subramanian

— Photo: AP

FIRM DECISION: The former Pakistan Prime Minister, Nawaz Sharif.

ISLAMABAD: The former Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif announced on Thursday that he would return to the country on September 10.

“I and Shahbaz Sharif [his younger brother] will, Inshallah, reach Pakistan on September 10. We will, Inshallah, land at Islamabad airport. The decision to land at Islamabad has been taken as we will land at the same place from where we were packed off into exile,” Mr. Sharif said at a press conference in London, his home since 2005.

The Pakistan Muslim League (N) leader said he would immediately set off on the Grand Trunk Road to Lahore, his home city. He said he was not scared of being arrested or in any other way prevented from landing in Pakistan. “Where will the Supreme Court decision [directing the government to ensure his unhindered return] go? Is the Supreme Court an institution or not? I don’t think [President Musharraf] can do anything [to prevent my return],” he said.

Mr. Sharif said that in deciding to go back, he was responding to “the call of duty; the call for the restoration of undiluted democracy in Pakistan; the call to restore the supremacy of the Constitution and rule of law; to rid my people of military dictatorship forever and to make the voices of 160 million people count.”

President Musharraf was hatching deals for another five-year term, Mr. Sharif said, adding it was irrelevant that he was now prepared to quit as army chief.

“Illegal rule”

“His uniform is not the main issue. The real issue is his illegal rule, the real issue is the restoration of the 1973 Constitution. Pakistan cannot be run by a patchwork of democracy and dictatorship,” Mr. Sharif said.

Taking a swipe at Pakistan Peoples Party leader Benazir Bhutto for negotiating a second term for President Musharraf in the name of democracy, he said he would never be party to any such deal. “I will not negotiate democracy through an intelligence agency,” he said, evidently in a reference to one of President Musharraf’s emissaries to Ms. Bhutto, ISI boss Lt. Gen Ashfaq Keani. “I will negotiate democracy with the people of Pakistan.” Describing President Musharraf as a “sinking ship,” Mr. Sharif said, “he is on his way out and no one should try to rescue him for personal reasons,” and Ms. Bhutto’s decision to talk to the regime was “unfortunate” and “bad for Pakistan.”

No reaction from government

There was no immediate reaction from the government. But President Musharraf said in a pre-recorded programme telecast on Thursday night that there was no question of imposing marital law or emergency.

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