Nawaz forced into exile hurriedly: senior PPP leader

Islamabad, Sept 11 (UNI) Senior Pakistan Peoples Party leader Ghulam Mustafa Khar, who was an eyewitness to the sordid drama where former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was deported a few hours after his arrival here, said the exiled leader was bundled off unceremoniously.

''The government forced Nawaz Sharif back into exile to Saudi Arabia without even processing his immigration,'' the Daily Times today cited the former Punjab Governor and Chief Minister, who was also a passenger on PK-786 from London, as saying.

He said they saw a lot of commandos, including women, all around them as the plane touched down at the airport,'' he said, adding some passengers advised Mr Sharif to take a seat at the back of the plane to avoid a forced evacuation from the plane.

''Nawaz and I moved back and waited. Lord Nazir was also with us. The plane's door opened after a considerable time and a man, claiming to be an immigration officer, came in and asked for Nawaz's passport. He also asked us to come out of plane,'' he said.

Mr Khar said Nawaz and his supporters said they would not get off the plane, questioning the presence of the large number of security personnel. The immigration officials, however, continuously asked for the former PM's passport, he added.

Eventually when Mr Sharif and his supporters came out of the plane, they were taken to the lounge, where him and Lord Nazir ordered tea, Mr Khar said. It was then a National Accountability Bureau official announced that he would arrest Mr Sharif for cases pending against him at the NAB.

''Two Pakistan Air Force officers were standing outside the lounge and escorted Nawaz Sharif away. He was taken out without immigration process,'' the PPP leader added.

UNI