Sharif returns, says won't bend before Musharraf

KINGSIZE FAREWELL: Nawaz Sharif is greeted by Saudi King Abdullah before he leaves his exile in Riyadah.

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New Delhi: Exiled former Prime Minister of Pakistan Nawaz Sharif returned home on Sunday to crowds of jubilant supporters, adding to the volatility of a country shaken by political turmoil and militant violence.

The aircraft - provided to Sharif by Saudi royal family - landed at the Allama Iqbal airport a little before 1900 hrs IST after departing from the Saudi city of Medina.

Sharif, who was ousted by General Pervez Musharraf eight years ago and exiled to Saudi Arabia a year later, returns to a country under Emergency rule and in political turmoil.

It is his second return from exile. The first attempt, on September 10, lasted just hours before he was unceremoniously deported again despite a Supreme Court ruling allowing him to remain.

Lahore police have made extensive security arrangements for Sharif’s return with about 5,000 security personnel posted in the city.

Only senior PML-N office bearers and former party MPs have been allowed to come to the airport to receive him.

But thousands of workers and leaders of his PML-N party gathered outside the Allama Iqbal airport to greet Sharif despite orders issued by the authorities to prevent gatherings of five or more people.

Arriving ahead of the January elections, Sharif asked Musharraf to ensure free and fair polls.

" Musharraf has to first roll back all that he has done since November three, that is very essential, everything he has done since November three has to be reversed and rolled back completely before we could discuss about the possibility of any talks," Sharif said in Medina prior to his departure to Lahore.

When asked if he would agree to a power-sharing deal that envisaged Musharraf as President and him as Prime Minister, Sharif said: "No, no, no, no question."

"I can't alone decide, of course the All Parties Democratic Movement can decide on it (holding talks with Musharraf," the 57-year-old leader of Pakistan Muslim League (N) added.

Many supporters broke through police barricades and entered the airport, shouting slogans and waving posters and the PML-N's green flags.

Officials speaking off the record in Islamabad hinted at a Musharraf-Nawaz understanding which includes no confrontational politics.

The former Prime Minister's party is already celebrating in Lahore. However, Pakistan government says that it is a bad idea. It has warned of suicide attacks which leaves the field open for detention and house arrests upon arrival.

This will be Sharif’s another shot at returning to his native land from Saudi Arabia where he has been living in exile for the last seven years.

The last time he tried to touch down in Pakistan in September 2007 he was arrested on corruption charges and later deported to Jeddah.

A member of Pakistan's ruling party said he was given an option of going abroad or going to jail. Sharif opted for the latter.

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