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As a wide-screen television plays pictures of the bloody riots in Karachi across one wall of his office, Nawaz Sharif declares: “I have every intention of going back to my country.” Mr Sharif, deposed as Prime Minister of Pakistan by Pervez Musharraf’s 1999 coup, says the President “is a gone man now”.
“His options are totally exhausted and starting from today [his fall] is simply a matter of time,” he said in an interview with the Times yesterday.
Mr Sharif has had eight years to rue the day that he appointed General Musharraf as head of the army, believing him to be that rare commodity in Pakistan’s history: a military commander who would not pose a threat to an elected leader.
He was wrong, and was forced to flee to Saudi Arabia. He later moved to Dubai and, in 2005, to London. He steers his branch of the Pakistan Muslim League, the more conservative of the country’s two mainstream political parties, from a mansion flat opposite Selfridges department store. This Victorian block, with its unmarked door bells and musty carpeted stairwells. could have catered for decades of pining exiles.
The anti-Musharraf protests in Karachi that saw 41 killed and the subsequent nationwide strike may represent a chance to return. “Protests are in every nook and cranny of the country”, Mr Sharif said. “It is a positive development that people are realising that the dictator is destroying institutions.”
The trigger for the rising tension was President Musharraf’s attempt on March 9 to dismiss Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudry on unspecified charges. But the deeper cause is his refusal to step down as head of the army, and his attempts to ensure that a new Parliament, due to be elected later this year, picks him as President.
Mr Sharif may have been outflanked in his bid to return to Pakistani politics by Benazir Bhutto — another former Prime Minister in exile and head of the other mainstream party, the more liberal Pakistan People’s Party. She has been trying to strike a deal with President Musharraf, in which he would drop corruption charges against her and allow her to return, in exchange for her party’s support in the elections. Talks appear to have collapsed, but the US has supported the notion, hoping that it might dilute the embarrassingly anti-democratic features of its ally.
Mr Sharif sees Mrs Bhutto’s move as a clear breach of a pact he struck with her in London a year ago, which “left no room for any parlays with a dictator”. But he said carefully that relations were cordial. “I keep talking to her, I try to discuss with her the implications for democracy of talking to a dictator.”
He added that “I feel personally let down by Mr Bush”, for his support of General Musharraf. Pakistan’s President “is hoodwinking the international community”, he said, “telling them that he is the only option except extremists, and that is absolute rubbish”. For the sake of courting “one man, Mr Bush is alienating 160 million Pakistanis”.
President Musharraf should have “consulted Parliament and the people” before backing the US in the 2001 Afghan invasion and the “War on Terror”, Mr Sharif continues. He is “erratic, unpredictable and impulsive — I don’t know what President Bush thinks of that.”
It is not surprising that Mr Sharif displays apparently limitless reserves of bitterness, denying President Musharraf any credit for the improving economy, or continuing talks with India.
He rejects any suggestion that he might now regret his own decision to launch Pakistan’s 1998 nuclear test, which triggered US sanctions and an economic slump. He has in the past dismissed President Musharraf’s accusations that the two Sharif governments fostered corruption.
But he is not exaggerating the depth of the constitutional crisis now facing Pakistan. He said that if elections were actually held, he would try to return to campaign, despite the unpredictable response from the Government. “London is a very nice place, but I’m looking forward to going back.”
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I think Nawaz Sharif is an incapable person, he has been given 2 chances and he screwed up both times. People usually only get one chance but this person got 2 and he was worthless. He should stay away as far away from Pakistan as possible. Whoever wins the election, will do a better job than he would, guaranteed
Taimur, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
No matter what you think of military rule and Musharraf, weren't people getting a bit tired of the endless food fights between Sharif and Ms. Bhutto? These have not gone away, and most likely they will return when the military leaves. Of course this is for the Pakistani people to decide, but aren't people sick and tired of all the sterility and the posturing of so many egomaniacs?
Christopher Hobe Morrison, Middletown, Orange County, NY, USA
People of Pakistan are able and capable of selecting their own leaders (like any other civilised nation). They may pick the so called failed leaders, NS and BB again...so what? its their democratic right to do so.
Of course if the elected leaders do not perform they will themselves vote them off next time. (This has happened in past when BB after messing up in her first tenure was voted off by her own people in next elections and the same happened to NS).
With the media getting much stable in Pakistan and people getting more educated through this it will be long term beneficial for people to make their own choice(s). However we must let the democratic process start and not derail it... this will be the only long term solution for establishing true will of the people and long lasting freedom of Pakistan and Pakisatnies.
We the people of Pakistan are capable and able enough to select our own leaders rather than ruled by a dictator may it be military or a technocrat
M Malik, London, UK
Ms.benazir and Mr.Nawaz sharif both are responsible for present crises in Pakistan as they never worked for the welbeing of comman people of Pakistan, they also ignored the advices of THINK TANK and made blanders in making decision. In my personal opinion politicians and their party fail to discharge their duties religiously and now it is prime time for TECHNOCRATES to run the country.
abdulmalik, karachi, Pakistan
The tradition is to hang Pictures of Quiad-e-Azam or if it was the Pakistan People Party, to hang picture of Z. A. Bhutto. PML(Q) has no leader of repute whose picture could go on a drawing room wall. Traditionally Pakistanis and Muslims would Hang Quranic Sayings or the 99 Names of Allah.
They may hang a painting or a price catch of head of a tiger or a Deer. this is the first instance that a leader is hanging on the wall the picture of bloody riots in Karachi.
This is nothing new for Shareef has many such pictures during his regime but perhaps he could not bring them with him when he negotiated exile to trial.
aziz ahmed, Rickardson, Texas/ U.S. A.
Hi,
I am a Pakistani and following the current judicial crisis. I think this is a very good opportunity for Pakistanis to get rid of Military dictatorship. I would say that Mr. Sharif should show courage and return home. All praise to Lawyers, media (especially AAJ TV), political workers.
Younus, Toronto, Canada
Hi,
I am pakistani and lives in the capital (Islamabad). me and millions other in the paksitan now want to see the back of musharraf. its unimaginable on one side president bush attacks on Iraq for the democracy and talk about the democracy in the middle east as well as in saudi arabia but at the same time supporting dictators like Pr. Musharaff and Husani muabarak ok egypt the whole world knows its undemocratic and unconstituational but nobdy takes stands, i can assure the world they will get a better person than musharraf because history of paksitan is full of people like these who can scarifice the country, its people its progress its resources and any other thing just to please america.
I also want to appeal to his family and specially his mother please guide him and advise him to step down in honor instead of people of pakistan disgracefully took his presidency and be remebered simply as a dictator.
Owais, Islamabad, Pakistan
Opportunists are having a field day in Pakistan these days.
And the deposed Chief Justice has added colours in their performance. Had he been a gentleman, he should have defended himself within the legal limits and by formally defending himself in court.
The exiled politicians are those culprits who plundered national wealth, garnered nepotism, corruption, sectarian and provincial conflicts and now they are again gearing up to repeat the same. I don't know why people of Pakistan forgets their past so quickly. Both mainstream parties came in power twice and their performance was worst then bad. National exchequer was virtually empty when Mian sahab and BB were exiled from Pakistan.
There are several cases against both of them with proofs, eye witnesses and still public in Pakistan is mad to bring them back. Its like axing your own feet. Had it been a democratic & civilian government in Pakistan these days, it would have been worst then Iraq and Afghanistan.
Shimud, Karlskrona,
I am a lifelong people party (benazir) supporter, but her recent talks with musharraf have discredited her. Let nawaz sharif show some spine and return.....I would vote for him.
qamar khan, Lahore, Pakistan
For God's sake, keep the damned religion out of civil government. And recognize that theocrats, who deny the ethical compellingness of rights-respecting liberal government, are estopped from invoking rights-respecting liberal principles when kept out of government.
Maynard, Oxford, UK
Hello Sir,
I am a Pakistani and a born Muslim League supporter (Nawaz Sharif's party). I feel that he should announce his date to return and be bold enough to face any strong reaction by government. He has many examples to follow and one of them is of his own party member -Mr Javed Hashmi who is titled as Prisoner of Conscience.
Best Regards,
Omer Jawad, Lahore, Pakistan
Hats off to "GREAT BRITAIN" for giving asylum & citizenship to the Pakistani fugitives who murdered, looted,skimmed and robbed Pakistani national resources.I extend an open invitation to all Sinn Féin members who are persecuted to live in my home in Pakistan as long as they please.
Aden,SZ, Islamabad, Pakistan