Sharif returning home tomorrow, Govt braces for confrontation
London-Islamabad, Sept. 9 (PTI): The Pakistan government today braced for a confrontation with a defiant Nawaz Sharif sticking to his plan to return home tomorrow after a seven-year exile ignoring international appeals as the former premier faced the prospect of deportation or arrest.
Pakistan sounded a high alert at airports, clamped prohibitory orders and detained hundreds of activists of Sharif's party-PML(N) as 57-year-old Sharif prepared to return home to "play his part in Pakistani politics" to challenge Musharraf whom he called a "reckless,impulsive dictator."
Sharif along with brother Shabaz are due to fly into Islamabad from London via Muscat at 1145 AM Pakistan time(1215 PM IST), his spokesman said in London.
The Government has officially not announced any plan how to deal with the Sharif brothers but says that it will act under the law.
Amid Pakistani media reports that Sharif will be deported immediately afater his arrival, Saudi Arabia has offered to keep the Sharif brothers in exile again. They had spent six years in the Kingdom after they went in exile in 2000 before shifting to London.
Geo TV reported that a plane of an Arab country will reach Islamabad airport as part of government plans to deport them.
Talking tough, Sharif dismissed the talk of deportation saying in an interview to NDTV before leaving London that Musharraf "dare" not do this since there is no justification or any reason for him to resort to this option.
Authorities in Islamabad plan to seal all main roads to Islamabad's international airport to stop people from welcoming Sharif.
A PML leader Ahsan Iqbal said in Islamabad their activists will reach the airport despite the crackdown by the government and that they will not allow the plane to take off in the event of Sharif's deportation.
Saudi Arabia's intelligence chief and the influential son of asassinated former Lebanese premier Rafiq Hariri this week-end joined calls for Sharif to scrap his plans to return home.
Regarding the arrest option, media reports said that a cell in a centuries-old Fort in Attock in Punjab has been prepared for his possible arrival. The government has also re-opened corruption cases against Sharif and reports suggest that he may be arrested on the same cases.
Information Minister Muhammed Ali Durrani said Sharif should respect his commitment to the most revered Muslim country(Saudia Arabia) and its leadership and complete 10 years in exile.
PML spokesman in London Nadir Chaudhry said that around 60 foreign and local journalists and cameramen are accompanying Sharif on his flight from London.
Sharif was arrested and sentenced for life imprisonment on the charges of hijacking, terrorism, corruption and misuse of power. He was pardoned on the condition of living in exile.
The Supreme Court last month ordered that Sharif can return to the country and can take part in politics.
Local media also reported that Sharif's plane is likely to be diverted to international airport at Quetta, the capital of southwestern Balochistan province.
Sharif's planned arrival comes at a time when Pakistan awaits return of another former premier Benazir Ali Bhutto from her self-imposed exile. The date for her return is expected to be announced on Sept. 14.
The Sharif brothers have announced plans to lead a procession to the central city of Lahore, capital of Punjab province, after landing in the capital Islamabad.
Meanwhile, the New York-based Human Rights Watch said Musharraf should immediately release jailed political activists and also urged international powers, particularly the US, to pressure the General to desist from prosecuting opponents.
"Rights-respecting leaders don't lock up hundreds of people who merely want to participate in their country's political process," said Ali Dayan Hasan, South Asia researcher at Human Rights Watch.
PML activists have been arrested under various provisions of the Maintenance of Public Order Act, the Anti-Terrorism Act or simply detained without charge.
"If Musharraf is serious about human rights, the rule of law and a return to democracy, he needs to allow due process and respect independent court decisions," said Hasan.
"The US should make it clear to Musharraf that ignoring his repression of political opponents in exchange for cooperation in the 'war on terror' is no longer acceptable," said Hasan.
