Sharif returns to Islamabad; deported to Saudi Arabia

Islamabad, Sep 10 (UNI) Power politics in Pakistan took a new dimension today when former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif arrived here after seven years in exile to take on President Pervez Musharraf but was arrested and within hours deported by the military regime to Saudi Arabia amid high drama.

As his supporters clashed with police outside the Islamabad Airport, which was sealed, the former Premier arrived here on board a PIA flight from London but reportedly refursed to come out of the aircraft immediately. He later disembarked from the plane and was taken to the VIP lounge.

The former Premier, who was ousted by Gen Musharraf in a bloodless coup in October 1999, was later arrested on, what a government official said, money-laundering and corruption charges.

Later, he was deported to Saudi Arabia about four hours after flying in a special PIA flight. A Saudi source was quoted as saying by Reuters that he would be accepted back into exile and was expected in the Red Sea port of Jeddah.

Paramilitary rangers and army troops cordoned the entire airport last night and all roads connecting twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad were blocked to prevent workers of Mr Sharif's Pakistan Muslim League from reaching the airport.

Local and international media was pushed out of the airport building early morning and security further tightened in what officials called ''an attempt to avoid any untoward incident.'' In a surprise move, Mr Sharif had yesterday opted for Pakistan International Airlines flight at the last minute and stopped his brother Mr Shahbaz Sharif to accompany him to Pakistan where the authorities have reportedly re-opened pending cases of corruption against him.

Ousted from power in a bloodless coup by military chief Pervez Musharraf in October 1999, the former Prime Minister had gone into exile in December 2000 and settled in Saudi Arabia under a deal brokered by the Saudi government and Mr Saad Hariri, son of slain Lebanese Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri, for ten years.

Mr Hariri, who visited Pakistan over weekend along with Saudi intelligence chief Muqrin bin Abdul Aziz, urged Mr Sharif to honour his commitment and stay out of Pakistan.

But Mr Sharif, who was allowed to return and remain in the country as a Pakistani citizen, by the Supreme Court, challenged the statement saying he had honoured the commitment as the duration of exile was five years and not ten years.

While media was not allowed to cover his arrival, video footage by private television channels taken from nearby houses showed the aircraft landing and three other planes parked at the bay strengthening fears that he may be deported.

While the former premier struggled to come out of the plane, a number of top politicians, including Qazi Hussain Ahmad, Maulana Fazalur Rehman and Liaqat Baloch, PML's stalwarts, Raja Zafarul Haq and several others were arrested.

Talking to reporters in London before boarding the plane, an upbeat Mr Sharif had said, ''We are going, nothing can stop us.'' ''I decided to travel in a PIA flight due to the changed scenario because it was feared that if I had booked the flight of any foreign airline that would have been cancelled or diverted to other destination,'' he told Geo TV on board the flight.

''The situation of Pakistan is crystal clear before everybody and the Pakistani nation wants to get rid of dictatorship, '' he claimed, adding the ''feeling about my return to homeland is beyond explanation.'' The channel quoted Mr Shahbaz Sharif as saying that his brother (Mr Nawaz Sharif) asked him to stay in London despite ''ardently wanting his company with a view to tackle the situation if he is arrested or deported after arrival in Pakistan.'' ''Nawaz Sharif forcibly asked to delay my return programme despite my keen desire to accompany him,'' he said, adding he obeyed ''as I am under obligation to do that because he is my elder brother and leader.'' UNI