Pak Govt calls Nawaz's bluff, reveals exile pact
New Delhi: Amid high drama on Monday, former prime minister Nawaz Sharif was arrested on his arrival at the Islamabad Airport and within hours deported to Saudi Arabia.
While Sharif's partymen and his lawyers immediately moved the court against the government’s move to deport him, the Pakistani authorities produced documents that show Sharif had indeed entered into a pact with the Saudi Arabian government for not returning to Pakistan for 10 years.
CNN-IBN is now in possession of copies of the documents — called the ‘Confidentiality and Hold Harmless’ agreement. It shows Sharif will not engage in any business or political activities against the interest of Pakistan.
The former prime minister’s brother Shahbaz Sharif had also entered into an understanding with the Saudi Arabian government for staying out of Pakistan for a period of 10 years.
The combative PML-N leader was confined to the PIA aircraft for nearly 90 minutes after it touched down at the Islamabad International airport, arrested on corruption charges and soon whisked away to another plane and deported to Jeddah.
As soon as the PIA flight PK-786 from London landed at 0915 hours IST, commandos surrounded the plane and senior officials boarded it to hold negotiations with Sharif, who refused to submit his passport to immigration authorities.
An emotional and teary Sharif told reporters on board the aircraft that he was "unsure" about his fate.
He said the Pakistani government had failed to rectify its past mistakes. "Going by what is happening, it seems that the government has not learnt from its mistakes. It is repeating the same mistakes that the previous dictator had done,” he said.
Sharif said he had asked his brother Shahbaz, who was scheduled to accompany him, to remain in London. "I do not know what treatment would be meted out to me. At least Shahbaz would be there to look after the party".
In the continuing crackdown on Sharif's supporters, Pakistan police arrested top leaders of his PML-N party who were leading a procession to the airport to welcome their leader.
The police had sealed off a five km radius around the airport. Roadblocks were erected and prohibitory orders promulgated to prevent PML-N supporters from gathering near the airport.
A contingent of security forces including Rangers and the Elite Force commandos were deputed and armoured vehicles were patrolling the area.
Political experts say deporting Sharif was a better option for Musharraf than putting him under arrest as it would have lead to widespread protests in Pakistan.
The Story So Far
* 1991: Nawaz Sharif becomes prime minister after Benazir Bhutto was dismissed on charges of incompetence and corruption. Nawaz begins economic liberalisation programme. Islamic Shariah law formally incorporated into legal code.
* 1992: Nawaz Government launches campaign to stamp out violence by Urdu-speaking supporters of the Mohajir Quami Movement.
* 1993: Nawaz resigns along with the President under pressure from military. A general election brings Benazir Bhutto back to power.
* 1996: President Leghari dismisses Bhutto government amid corruption allegations.
* 1997: Nawaz Sharif returns as prime minister after his Pakistan Muslim League party wins elections.
* 1998: Pakistan conducts its own nuclear tests after India explodes several devices.
* 1999 April: Benazir Bhutto and her husband convicted of corruption and given jail sentences. Benazir stays out of the country.
* 1999 May: Kargil conflict — Pakistan-backed forces clash with the Indian military in the icy heights around Kargil in Indian-held Kashmir. More than 1,000 people are killed on both sides.
* 1999 October: Nawaz Sharif overthrown in military coup led by General Pervez Musharraf. Coup is widely condemned, Pakistan is suspended from Commonwealth.
* 2000 April: Nawaz Sharif sentenced to life imprisonment on hijacking and terrorism charges.
* 2000 December: Nawaz Sharif goes into exile in Saudi Arabia after being pardoned by military authorities.
* 2001 20 June: Gen Pervez Musharraf names himself president while remaining head of the army. He replaced the figurehead president, Rafiq Tarar, who vacated his position earlier in the day after the parliament that elected him was dissolved.
* 2007 March: President Musharraf suspends the Chief Justice Iftakar Mohammed Chaudhry, triggering a wave of anger across the country.
* 2007 July: Security forces storm the Red Mosque complex in Islamabad following a week-long siege. In a big setback to Musharraf, Supreme Court reinstates Chief Justice Chaudhry.
* 2007 August: Pakistan Supreme Court clears homecoming of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and his brother Shahbaz.
* 2007, 7 September: A court in Pakistan orders the arrest of Nawaz Sharif's brother Shahbaz on his arrival in Pakistan.
* 2007, 10 September: Nawaz Sharif returns to Pakistan.
