Daily Times : Nawaz returns in style

Nawaz returns in style

* Sharifs also have deal with Musharraf
* Nawaz cannot contest elections because of conviction
* Hamza denies any deal

By Qamar Jabbar | November 25, 2007

LAHORE: Former premier Nawaz Sharif has reached an understanding with the government, whereby he and possibly Shahbaz Sharif may not destabilise the Musharraf regime or boycott the elections, according to sources in government. Also, while Sharif may not personally contest the upcoming general elections, Kulsoom Nawaz and Hamza Shahbaz would be allowed to contest the elections from Lahore, sources told Daily Times on Saturday.

Nawaz, following a meeting with Saudi King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz, met with senior Pakistani officials and close associates of President General Pervez Musharraf, and agreed that the Sharif family could return to Pakistan as long as the PML-N did not boycott the elections, PML-Q sources told Daily Times. They said the understanding also involves the restoration of some of Nawaz’s business interests in the country and his Model Town residence. ISI DG Gen Nadeem Taj and Brig (r) Niaz, a mutual “friend” of Gen Musharraf and Nawaz, mediated the negotiations in Jeddah. The sources said that Nawaz had also agreed not to destabilise Gen Musharraf’s “transition” to democracy or try to overthrow him.

Conviction: According to the understanding, as revealed by PML-Q sources, Nawaz cannot contest the election because of his conviction, as has been stated by Attorney General Qayyum Malik. Shahbaz does not face any conviction but there’s a case of a plea bargain in which he is party as director of Hudaibia Mills and according to some legal experts, this is equivalent to a conviction and hence makes him ineligible.

However, caretaker Information Minister Nisar Memon has said that everyone is free to contest the polls, which is causing confusion and all sorts of rumours are being spread about the new understanding between the Sharifs and the government.

No deal: However, Hamza Shahbaz, son of former Punjab chief minister Shahbaz Sharif, rejected the claims his family had reached any understanding with the government, adding that they were returning to Pakistan according to the Supreme Court’s decision. He said they would all actively participate in the elections. Nawaz, Shahbaz and Kulsoom will contest the elections from NA-120, NA-119 and NA-118, respectively and their nomination papers have already been obtained from the returning officers concerned.

The Sharif family’s decision to return on November 25 means they will return a day before the submission of nomination papers.

Meanwhile Shahbaz Sharif told a private TV channel that Nawaz has no enmity with anyone and he is returning to the country to serve the people of Pakistan. A senior government official told a foreign news agency that the government would not obstruct Nawaz Sharif’s homecoming this time. “We have no plans to arrest him,” the official said.

Former premier Nawaz Sharif will return to the country today (Sunday) along with his wife Kulsoom Nawaz, brother Shahbaz Sharif and Ishaq Dar. He would land at Allama Iqbal International Airport in Lahore at around 2pm, reported Online. The Saudi monarch is sending Sharif to Pakistan on a royal plane and has gifted him two bulletproof Mercedes cars and also lent him a helicopter for use during the elections.