Pakistani authorities tightened security at Islamabad's airport
and have detained more than 2,000 supporters of exiled former prime
minister Nawaz Sharif, his party said yesterday, the eve of his
planned return.
Sharif, ousted by army chief General Pervez Musharraf in 1999,
says he is determined to fly home from London today to try to end
President Musharraf's rule despite an appeal from a Saudi official
for him to stay away for the sake of stability.
Sharif's return is a serious challenge for Musharraf, who has
lost much support since trying to dismiss the country's top judge
in March.
It comes as Musharraf is preparing to try to secure another term
in a presidential election by the national and provincial
assemblies some time between September 15 and October 15.
A general election is due around the end of the year.
Sharif's spokesman, Ahsan Iqbal, said authorities had detained
more than 2,000 activists from Sharif's party in Punjab province,
Sharif's political power base.
A provincial police official said 250 "trouble makers" had been
picked up.
Sharif is expected to arrive in Islamabad at around noon (3 PM
Beijing time). A security high alert has been declared at the
airport which will be largely sealed off.
Before his departure for home, Sharif said in London, "My
security is in the hands of God and of course the people of
Pakistan."
Asked about the detention of his supporters, Sharif said:
"Thousands of people have been arrested but by the grace of God our
supporters are in the millions. That is not going to deter us."
Musharraf sent Sharif to Saudi Arabia in 2000 as part of what
the government says was a deal that Sharif would stay in exile for
10 years. In return, he avoided a life sentence on hijacking and
corruption charges.
Pakistan says the Saudi royal family and assassinated Lebanese
leader Rafik al-Hariri guaranteed the deal. Sharif said on Saturday
he understood the agreement was for five years exile. The Supreme
Court last month said Sharif had the right to return and the
government should not try to stop him.
Saudi intelligence chief Muqrin bin Abdul Aziz and al-Hariri's
son, Saad, met Musharraf in Islamabad on Saturday.
"We are hoping, we are really hoping, sincerely hoping, His
Excellency Nawaz Sharif honors this agreement," Muqrin told
reporters. He cited concern about Pakistani stability.
The government has not said what it will do when Sharif and his
politician brother, Shahbaz, land. The brothers could be arrested -
both face various charges - or they could be put on an aircraft
back out of the country, as Shahbaz was when he tried to come home
in 2004.
(China Daily September 10, 2007)
