Exiled Musharraf Rival Returns To Pakistan To A 'Hero's Welcome'

[babylonsister]

Former PM Sharif Returns to Pakistan

SLOBODAN LEKIC | November 25, 2007 01:05 PM EST | AP


LAHORE, Pakistan — Exiled former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif returned home to a hero's welcome Sunday and called on President Gen. Pervez Musharraf to end emergency rule before elections, a fresh challenge to the U.S.-backed leader.

"These (emergency) conditions are not conducive to free and fair elections," Sharif told reporters at the airport after arriving from Saudi Arabia. "I think the constitution of Pakistan should be restored, and there should be rule of law."

Sharif, the head of one of the country's main opposition parties, said he had not negotiated his return with Musharraf, who overthrew him in a 1999 coup. Musharraf expelled Sharif when he first tried come back to Pakistan this year.

"My return is not the result of any deal," Sharif told reporters. "My life and death are for Pakistan."

Thousands of frenzied supporters pushed past police barricades into the airport in this eastern city, carrying Sharif and his brother on their shoulders and cheering wildly as Sharif stood among them on a raised platform. An armored car carrying Sharif left the airport on a procession toward a shrine in the center of the city, surrounded by screaming supporters.

Musharraf has grown increasingly unpopular since he declared a state of emergency on Nov. 3, locking up thousands of opponents, purging the Supreme Court and muzzling the media.

more...

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/huff-wires/20071125/pakistan/

[gateley]

1. Boy, ANOTHER player in the Pakistan government. And to think I never gave

this country a second thought until Biden mentioned it during a debate...

I'll look to Biden to get his take on this -- what it really means, how it ultimately affects us, what actions - if any - would be best for the U.S. and the Pakistani people. No way would I expect to get an honest evaluation from Bushco - plus, Bushco is probably waiting to hear what Biden says about it too, just like they did when Musharraf declared martial law and Bhutto returned. (Gee, can you tell how bitter I am toward this current administration??)

Thank you for posting this - our education continues. It's overwhelming at times, isn't it?

[Joanne98]

2. Something else is going on here!

It smells like another US "regime change". How many "state owned" assets do they have?

[AlertLurker]

3. Could this be just to further divide the vote between secular parties...

and prevent the creation of another Islamic Republic?

Why would Pakistan (or Musharraf, actually) let him return from Saudi Arabia three years early? Could there have been pressuse from BOTH sides here?

It was, after all (or so I have read - it seems a little shady and I can't figure out WHY), the Saudis who originally requested / paid for Nawaz Sharif and his brother's pardon/10 year exile in 2000...

I'm going to go out on a limb, here and predict further civil unrest.