Exiled Pakistani PM can go home

GOTFIVEONIT · #1 (**permalink**) 08-23-2007, 07:11 AM

Sharif was deposed in a coup

Last Updated: Thursday, 23 August 2007, 11:57 GMT 12:57 UK

Exiled Pakistani PM can go home

Pakistan's Supreme Court has ruled that exiled former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif can return to the country.

Mr Sharif left Pakistan after he was ousted by President Pervez Musharraf in a 1999 military coup.

His campaign to return and contest elections has been seen by analysts as a challenge to the president, who is facing growing political pressures.

But correspondents say the former prime minister could still face charges if he decides to return home.

Mr Sharif's supporters outside the court cheered the ruling and called on Gen Musharraf to stand down.

'Inalienable right'

Mr Sharif was sentenced to life in prison for hijacking, tax evasion and treason and was kicked out of Pakistan after the coup.

The authorities say Mr Sharif promised to stay out of Pakistan and away from politics for 10 years in exchange for his freedom and exile in Saudi Arabia.

But Mr Sharif denied doing a deal with the Pakistan government.

And Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry said in his judgement: "The Sharifs can return to Pakistan unhindered.

"They have an inalienable right to return and remain in the country as citizens of Pakistan."

GOTFIVEONIT · #2 (**permalink**) 08-23-2007, 07:44 AM

Supporters of Pakistan's ousted Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif celebrate Pakistan's Supreme Court's decision in favor of the former leader, Thursday, Aug 23, 2007, in Islamabad, Pakistan. Sharif can return to Pakistan from exile, the Supreme Court ruled, in another setback for Pakistani President Gen. Pervez Musharraf. (AP Photo/B.K.Bangash)

Activists of the party of former Pakistani prime minister Nawaz Sharif shout slogans as they leave the Supreme Court building in Islamabad, 03 August 2007. Pakistan's Supreme Court has said that Sharif could return home after seven years in exile imposed by his embattled arch foe President Pervez Musharraf.(AFP/File/Farooq Naeem)

Anderson · #3 (**permalink**) 08-23-2007, 08:10 AM

Do Pakistani's love evil corrupt leaders who suck the blood out of their people?

GOTFIVEONIT · #4 (**permalink**) 08-23-2007, 08:12 AM

Pakistan's top court is expected to rule Thursday on an appeal by former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif against his seven-year exile by embattled arch foe President Pervez Musharraf.(AFP/Farooq Naeem)

GOTFIVEONIT · #5 (**permalink**) 08-23-2007, 08:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Anderson

Do Pakistani's love evil corrupt leaders who suck the blood out of their people?

when your the one benefitting i guess so.

Jamroll · #6 (**permalink**) 08-23-2007, 11:33 AM

I'm pretty sure the Americans et. al, have a hand in this attempt at destabilising Pakistan. I don't think anyone wants Nawaz Sharif back apart from his cronies who benefitted when he was in power. If he comes back he should be prosecuted under corruption, fraud, and most importantly misappropriating PUBLIC funds.

rxrlm · #7 (**permalink**) 08-23-2007, 11:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jamroll

I'm pretty sure the Americans et. al, have a hand in this attempt at destabilising Pakistan. I don't think anyone wants Nawaz Sharif back apart from his cronies who benefitted when he was in power. If he comes back he should be prosecuted under corruption, fraud, and most importantly misappropriating PUBLIC funds.

The American government is actually hoping for another puppet.

Look here

ChotooMotoo · #8 (**permalink**) 08-23-2007, 11:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rxrlm

The American government is actually hoping for another puppet.

Look here

Seems Bhutto wants to elect herself prime minister without holding any elections. Very democratic of her.

As for American puppets, Nawaz worked pretty well for them last time, 8 years in exile should have taught him who his daddy is, so he should be an even better puppet now.

rxrlm · #9 (**permalink**) 08-23-2007, 11:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChotooMotoo

Seems Bhutto wants to elect herself prime minister without holding any elections. Very democratic of her.

As for American puppets, Nawaz worked pretty well for them last time, 8 years in exile should have taught him who his daddy is, so he should be an even better puppet now.

May the better puppet win-- is probably the American dua.

Jamroll · #10 (**permalink**) 08-23-2007, 12:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rxrlm

The American government is actually hoping for another puppet.

Look here

See this is the kind of thing that really raises eyebrows. The US government pretends it doesn't understand why there is such animosity towards it. This is pretty much a good example of why. The U.S. govt has no place to dictate to the Pakistani government or the Pakistani people about how their country should be run, or by whom. This only makes people feel justified in thinking that the US championing democracy is hollow words, and double standards.

ChotooMotoo · #11 (**permalink**) 08-23-2007, 12:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jamroll

This only makes people feel justified in thinking that the US championing democracy is hollow words, and double standards.

Is there another way to feel?

rxrlm · #12 (**permalink**) 08-23-2007, 12:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jamroll

See this is the kind of thing that really raises eyebrows. The US government pretends it doesn't understand why there is such animosity towards it. This is pretty much a good example of why. The U.S. govt has no place to dictate to the Pakistani government or the Pakistani people about how their country should be run, or by whom. This only makes people feel justified in thinking that the US championing democracy is hollow words, and double standards.

The official definition: Main Entry: de·moc·ra·cy
Pronunciation: di-'mä-kr&-sE
Function: noun
Inflected Form: plural -cies
1 a : government by the people; especially : rule of the majority b : a government in which the supreme power is vested in the people and exercised by them directly or indirectly through a system of representation usually involving periodically held free elections
2 : a political unit that has a democratic government —dem·o·crat·ic /"de-m&-'kra-tik/ adjective —dem·o·crat·i·cal·ly adverb

Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.

The US definition: Any psuedo-elected government that kneels to US wishes. If you are islamist or even have a minor connection with them, you are not eligible.

GOTFIVEONIT · #13 (**permalink**) 08-24-2007, 02:47 AM

well its more than just being a puppet. who do you think is cheering nawaz? its the punjabis. because these are the people the pml represents along with all those zamindaris as well. of course the fuedualistic landowners are jumping up for joy, one of their own is coming back.

the irony is that nawaz first started off as a cronie of the General Zia-ul-Haq during his days as chief minister of the punjab. He was the one they brought in, when they sacked benzair during her first term as PM. It was his thirst for power and attempts to consolidate it that got him into trouble. he sacked three army chief of staff's before he tried to sack gen. mushy. and that was his undoing.

Jamroll · #14 (**permalink**) 08-24-2007, 08:25 AM

Well, Punjabis are the majority in Pakistan, but at any rate, I think a distinction should be drawn between the elite and the masses. The elite are the ones who are corrupt and pander to the west, and they are the ones who look forward to the return of their Nawaz Sharif, etc.

You rightly stated that it is the zamindars (feudal landowners), like Benazir Bhutto, who make up the bulk of this elite bunch. But it is also made up of industrialists like Nawaz Sharif and his family. There's only a dozen or so families of this that have basically been running the show in Pakistan for decades. One of the things Musharraf claimed he would do is break up the stranglehold of this bunch, but he just ended up becoming a Western lackey dictator in the eyes of the people.

GOTFIVEONIT · #15 (**permalink**) 08-24-2007, 06:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jamroll

Well, Punjabis are the majority in Pakistan, but at any rate, I think a distinction should be drawn between the elite and the masses. The elite are the ones who are corrupt and pander to the west, and they are the ones who look forward to the return of their Nawaz Sharif, etc.

You rightly stated that it is the zamindars (feudal landowners), like Benazir Bhutto, who make up the bulk of this elite bunch. But it is also made up of industrialists like Nawaz Sharif and his family. There's only a dozen or so families of this that have basically been running the show in Pakistan for decades. One of the things Musharraf claimed he would do is break up the stranglehold of this bunch, but he just ended up becoming a Western lackey dictator in the eyes of the people.

what one freind of mine, an older gentelman, from pakistan told me, that in pak, the problem with 'democracy' and elections over there, is the the stranglehold of the zamindars. for example, he said, when in the village the big zamindari is running for a seat, he makes sure that everyone in the village votes for him and gives him their support, otherwise they will pay a deep price if they dont. thats the biggest problem that they face, and why gen. mushy first called it a 'sham democracy'.