Hopefully they will do the same when Bhutto turns up looking for the key to the Bank of Pakistan. Who do these people think they are that they would be allowed to run loose again? Saudi "kings" and "princes"? The sooner all of these dynastic regimes around the world collapse the better for all and that includes the ones running the USA.

John, Dundee, UK

I know the man personally and worked for him for more than a decade. In fact, it was Bhutto who failed her country miserably. Interpol has infared video of her looting the museums and banks of Pakistan, loading gold bullion onto railcars. Her husband, went from being called Mr. 10% to Mr. 90% by the time he finished his own personal plundering.
My attempts to get Pres. Clinton, for whom my family has long worked, to intervene in the hours before the coup, fell on deaf ears. I soon realized the West would rather have a dictator who's a puppet, then a Western-educated liberal who doesn't follow the US's dictates.
Note today's New York Times. Musharraf has allowed terrorist training academies to flourish, all the while taking the US dole to prevent such activities.
We are fools to think the US gov't is really trying to promote democracy around the world when empirical data proves we just want to bully everyone into behaving as we wish and for our own ends.

Name Withheld, Washington, DC, USA

Its so difficult to understand that Mr sharif and Benazir Bhutto still have so much support,are the people of pakistan blind to support such corrupt politicians who have robbed them. They both should not be allowed to stand in elections

Nikki, manchester, england

It is very unfortunate that efforts to return to democracy were thwarted and Ms Bhutto ditched him so that she could strike a better deal with the General . The problems of Pakistan and Bangladesh emanate from bitter enmity between the democratic parties leaders who take political differences to personal level to discredit each other, paving way for military rule. The days of General are numbered but the fact remains that with all his shortcomings, the General is moderate face of Pakistan.

M.M.GURBAXANI., Bangalore, India

Alex,
I think you have no idea what you are talking about. In the last 7 years, not a single corruption case was filed against Sharif and all of a sudden they have a case against him.

You can check different international surveys that will tell you that he is an all time popular leader of Pakistan and after todays incident, I believe he will rule the hearts of many more.

Musharraf's so called stability is a mirage, the reality of which soon everyone will know internationally. Getting the aid of 10 billion dollars and postponing the debt of IMF will not keep him in the game for long. The unemployment is an all time high, the country has been in the worst situation of electricity crisis, security risk is an all time high, many people have been kidnapped by the government agencies without charges for more than 2 years. What stability!

Corruption? Steel Mill, PTCL, NHA have billions of rupees of unaccounted monies that no one in the government seems to have the answer for!

Abu Haleema, Fredericton, Canada

Leaders do not emerge in a political vacuum, under the jackboot of the soldier. Mr. Sharif, for all his flaws, is a popular leader who was elected with a two thirds majority. P

It is the basic right of the voters of Pakistan to decide who is corrupt and who is not. A right that has been denied them by their U.S.-backed generals of Pakistan. Corruption is a universal human failing. Pakistan's main problem is not "bad" politicians, it is the army's chokehold on the state. Pakistan needs needs protection from the army more than by the army.

Khurram Bajwa, New York, USA

The deportation of Mr. Nawaz Sharif should be condemned all over the world. Where' s all the bluster about "Democracy" in emerging countries which the Western Governments, particularly the U.S., preach day-in and day-out .

By not allowing Mr. Sharif, whatever he is, victim or a criminal, the Govt. of Pakistan has shown its true dictatorial nature and lack of any maturity, despite the highest court ruling that Mr. Sharif has an inalienable right to return and should be allowed to come to Pakistan.

I applaud the European Union which has demanded the same that Mr. Sharif should face any consequencies in Pakistan - unlike the biggest democratic country the U.S., which has termed this an "internal matter" of Pakistan.

Zaheerana, Montreal, Canada

Mr. Sharif, champion of democracy!!!
It is a joke. Just, look at his second term, and see what kind of laws he was trying to enact, he wanted to to be an absolute elected leader, he was currupt and banrupted the country. Never learned the mistake of his first term. He does not have my sympathy.

Pakistan does need democracy, but not leaders like Benazir & Nawaz Sharif. New faces needs to emerge.

amjad, sterling, virginia

The fate that befell Nawaz Sharif is, in no small measure, of his own making. As PM of Pakistan he did little to wean away his nation from its India fixation, a fixation which deluded every Pakistani. Even after six decades of its independent existence this cradle of Jehadi Islam sees itself as a reflection of India whose only mission in life is to make things difficult for the land of the hated Hindu. Now of course the list of infidel states has grown many times.

And America and the West found no better ally in their war against terror. Now they are in it all together. The thought of having their front line ally in turmoil must be causing sleepless night in Washington and London. For how long can the hour of reckoning be put off?

The fate that fundamentalists of Pakistan have tried to force on other nations is bound to become there own destiny. As you sow so shall you reap goes an old saying. A bloody catharsis seems inevitable and that alone may purify Islam.

Jitendra K Kaushal, Gurgaon, Haryana

i think if he did money laundering he should put to jail

noneofyourbiznesss, not tellin pados, not telling

Nawaz is a corrupt politician. He should be exposed fully for the embezellments he did. He looted and let his cronies loot the country. His QABZA groups harrased ordinary citizens. He was 100% corrupt and need no sympathy. He is the one who promotted Talliban in Pakistan with the help of his militant
party budies and his promoter Zia ul Haq.
Full investigation should expose him and his party and friends.

Aminuddin, Pemberton, USA

He can afford them because his family built the entire manufacturing infrastructure ever since 1947. Do you think you people would have actually had a stock exchange without Mian Mohammed and a select group of intellectuals who saw the end of British imperialism as a way to advance Pakistan? Talk about living in the stone ages. For God's sakes, the people of Pakistan have a 98% illiteracy rate! Compare that to Sri Lanka or Bangladesh, which have 10% illiteracy. Without the Sharifs and a few educated businessmen, Pakistan wouldn't have the gorgeous avenues of Lahore, it would look like Afghanistan STILL does!!! Progress is good - having dictators is NOT!!

redwing1959, Washington, DC, USA

i think gen pervez is doing a good job in pakastan so leave him alone or face his anger.CANT WE ALL JUST GET ALONG...... now as for president bush he should be FIRED and we should hire hillary clinton and let me do chelse..

alex, queens nyc, united states of ameica

"Pakistan under General Musharraf was no better than a dictatorship"

isn't Pakistan under General Musharraf literally, and quite openly, a dictatorship?

Bob Frigo, Bristol, UK

pervez is being advised by bush and co. to do this, to give no authority to the muslims.

pakistan is the jewel of the muslim world and only nawaz sharif and co. can rule pakistan!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

sohail, london, England

In blustering about his intentions towards General Musharraf, Mr Sharif overreached himself somewhat blatantly. It would appear to be a case of failing to grasp the obvious, that the good General does not want to be overthrown, he just wants to launder the international image of his regime. But perhaps Mr Sharif is in any case more comfortable where he is. Perhaps it is easier to nobly intend to lead and honourably fail than to make the compromises necessary to actually succeed.

It is a tragedy that mortal fears still haunt the corridors of power in Pakistan, but lets be honest, the west would prefer the military control of Musharraf to a liberalised but chaotic Pakistan in which some madrasas and tribes might follow theologies of violence and vendetta without restraint nor hope of enlightenment from the folly which is the human lust for power.

Billy Bumpkin, Rushden, UK

Nawaz Sharif is a criminal who stole millions upon millions from Pakistan, now wishes to return and do the same again.

Yet all the british and internation media seem to think is that he is some kind of victim. The country of Pakistan was the victim of his criminality, and finally regained some stability under Mushraf.

Make no mistake, Sharif is not popular in Pakistan, he is far closer to being hated by the masses.

Alex Dino, London, England

Utter and complete contempt of the highest court in Pakistan,this is the way it seems after all the SC in Pakistan had already passed an order days earlier that Mr Nawaz Sharif has the right to return to his country.

Pakistanis and its well wishers will wonder who really 'controls' this country and those who have no democratic rights in their own country can bundle out.a former two time PM. It is also shameful and despicable that some democratic countries remain not only silent on this saga but may be supporting the 'dictatorship' that now occupies Pakistan.

It's a good sign the EU has issued a statement saying ""In our view the Supreme Court ruling is very clear and should be respected, Mr. Sharif, he should have a chance to defend himself in a Pakistan court."

This is a testing time for not just Pakistan but for those who claim to represent democracies.

abrar, Ontario,

Does any civilized country of the world deport its criminals? If Nawaz Sharif is a criminal then he should be tried in Pakistan. If his is not then why should he be depoted?

asif ali, Notts, UK

Nawaz Sharif is a corrupt beurocrat and Musharaf is a despot/tyrant who was NOT elected. If American foreign policy is truly about spreading democracy in the world, then give Pakistan free elections.

Taimur , Philadelphia, PA

Shocking - they believe Pakistan is no better under Musharaff than under a dictatorship. Criminals. The lot of them.

They would say that - that's because under Musharraf has experienced its most incredible economic growth ever. People there are happier, wealthier and more educated then evermore. Furthermore, Musharraf has left no opporunity for crooks like the Sharif's to line their own pockets.

i'm glad this round has gone to Musharraf - and so should the others. It's taken to long for Pakistan to reach the modest position in the world it has now - if the Sharif's come back, they will take Pakistan back to the stone age.Guaranteed. Leaving our country to crumble - as it was until Musharraf stepped in - and building their own Palaces in Manhattan and Park Lane (Sharif owns palatial properties all over the world - How else do you think he could afford them?

Hassan Azam, Banbury , Oxfordshire, UK