Pak detains many before ex-PM's return

Islamabad, Sep 9: 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 today, 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 tomorrow 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.

''I am, God willing, coming on the 10th of September and please don't try to stop me,'' he told reporters in London at a weekend press conference.

He said Musharraf thought might was right and believed ''in the law of the jungle. One cannot expect anything else from him. So I am not scared, let me tell you''.

The return of Sharif 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 Sept. 15 and Oct. 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.

''The way the government has acted has proven our point that there is no democracy under Musharraf, there is dictatorship in the country,'' Iqbal said. ''Politically, they are very sacred of a big show of popularity upon his arrival''.

A provincial police official said 250 ''trouble makers'' had been picked up.

Sharif is expected to arrive in Islamabad at around noon (1230 IST). A security high alert has been declared at the airport which will be largely sealed off.

''Security is at high alert and tomorrow visitors won't be allowed in, only people with confirmed tickets,'' a security official said.

Reuters
>