Islamabad, Pakistan – Pakistan’s Supreme Court on Thursday cleared the way for former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to return to the country after seven years in exile, a decision that dealt a major blow to President Pervez Musharraf as he struggles to hold on to power.
Musharraf had fought hard to block the return of Sharif, a political nemesis and the man he ousted in a 1999 military-led coup.
Government lawyers argued in court that Sharif had agreed in 2000 to spend 10 years in exile in Saudi Arabia rather than serve the life sentence in prison imposed on him when Musharraf took over.
But the court ruled Thursday that the exile agreement was not legally binding, and that Sharif has “an inalienable right to enter and remain in the country as a citizen of Pakistan.”
Sharif is poised to become Musharraf’s main political adversary as the president attempts to win a new term this fall. The decision to allow Sharif back into Pakistan set off an exuberant celebration outside the courthouse, with hundreds of supporters chanting “Go Musharraf, go!” and jumping on top of honking cars to hail a decision many interpreted as an act of defiance against the military-led regime.
“Democracy has won. Dictatorship has lost,” Sharif told reporters at a news conference in London. Sharif said he and his brother would be returning to the country “as soon as we can.”
“This is a historic moment in the history of Pakistan. The entire country should be happy,” said Tauqir Saulat, a 55-year-old financial consultant who waved a Sharif placard. “Pakistan doesn’t belong only to Musharraf. It’s a country of more than 160 million people. But the Pakistani army has denied them their basic rights – until today.”
The exact timing of Sharif’s return remained unclear Thursday afternoon, though it was expected that he would move quickly to take advantage of what his supporters believe is a rising tide of public support. Unlike fellow former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, Sharif has ruled out a deal with Musharraf and has said he will contest the general’s plans to win a new, five-year term from an expiring parliament while keeping his job as army chief.
Government lawyers indicated Thursday that they intend to try to enforce the life sentence against Sharif. So even if his plane is allowed to land on Pakistani soil, he may be arrested before he can leave the airport.
