Musharraf faces new standoff with SC over Sharif's deportation
Islamabad, Sept. 11 (PTI): Despite claiming that he had no role in Nawaz Sharif's deportation to Saudi Arabia, Pakistan's embattled President Pervez Musharraf faced another standoff with judiciary as the deposed Premier's party and family moved the Supreme Court today seeking his recall from Jeddah.
Opposition parties observed a 'Black Day' in protest against the deportation of Sharif, the PML-N leader, as lawyers across the country staged an anti-government strike, boycotting courts.
Sharif, who arrived here yesterday after a seven-year exile, was sent to Jeddah hours after he landed in Islamabad despite a Supreme Court verdict last month that the deposed Prime Minister had an "inalienable right" to come back.
Musharraf, while defending the government's decision to send Sharif back in exile, denied any role in the PML-N leader's deportation.
The President played no role in Sharif's deportation, Musharraf's spokesman Maj-Gen (Retd) Rashid Qureshi said.
"Put this question to the government. The Presidency has nothing to do with it," he was quoted by 'The News' daily as saying.
Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, however, claimed the government did not force Sharif to return to Saudi Arabia, and it was his own choice. "We did not force him to return. I have been told that he was given two options - either to go to prison or proceed to Saudi Arabia," Aziz said in an interview to CNBC television.
Deputy Information Minister Tariq Azim also said Sharif chose to go back into exile to avoid being detained and standing trial.
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