Pervez: Sharif can't return, join polls

PAKISTAN: Islamabad, Aug. 26: Refusing to abide by the recent Supreme Court judgment, Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf has said that exiled former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif would not be allowed to return to Pakistan to take part in the general elections slated for later this year.

"The government will neither allow the Sharif brothers to come back nor would they be given a free hand if they chose to return. If Mr Sharif is not honouring his exile' deal, the government will put him behind bars or send him back to Saudi Arabia," The News quoted Gen. Musharraf as saying here.

Gen. Musharraf said that he will talk to the Saudi government regarding the exile deal with Mr Sharif and his brother Shahbaz who are expected to return to Pakistan before the expiry of the 10-year agreement.

"The Sharif brothers are bound to abide by the agreement and the Saudi government would be approached in this connection," Gen. Musharraf said while talking to a group of ruling Pakistan Muslim League (Quaid-e-Azam) leaders here on Saturday night.

"Saudi Arabia had brokered the agreement (in the year 2002), under which the Sharif brothers had agreed that they will live there for ten years without indulging in politics," he added.

He said Mr Sharif had signed an agreement with the Saudi monarch in order to avail his "exile" promising not to return before ten years.

"If he breaks the agreement, the issue would be taken up with the Saudi government. Personally I do not have any problem or uneasiness about his return to the country," said Gen. Musharraf.

On Thursday, Mr Sharif was allowed by the Supreme Court to return to Pakistan against his so-called deal with the government to stay abroad for 10 years. He has already served 7 years in exile. Gen. Musharraf stressed on PML-Q members to ignore minor differences as elections are nearby, and advised them to prepare for it in full spirit.

He said that keeping aside his personal interests, he wants to work for the nation and no effort to destabilise Pakistan would be tolerated. Gen. Musharraf said that the country is passing through a critical phase and in view of this "we must make decisions in line with national interest."

He said, "We have to counter the challenges of extremism and terrorism and for this we need the cooperation of not only the entire nation but also the political parties." He said political stability is need of the hour and all reservations regarding the holding of peaceful and transparent elections must be removed.

Gen. Musharraf said, "We have to work as a united nation and for this all patriotic parties should play their role in promoting national solidarity and political reconciliation."

He said, "We are holding talks with various parties to achieve this, however we are not striking a deal with anyone but we are maintaining contact." Gen. Musharraf said that he has promised the nation that the assemblies would complete their tenure and this promise will be fulfilled.

He said that democratic institutions are being strengthened and political stability would be achieved. He said that when the next government is formed, it should also complete its 5-year term so that the process of development moves forward.

Islamabad, Monday, Asian Age