Click to play videoNew Delhi/London/Islamabad: He returned on Monday to Pakistan after seven years in exile for what amounted to just four hours in all.
Former prime minister of Pakistan Nawaz Sharif is now back in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, deported by the Pakistan government which claims it is a move taken to safeguard the country's supreme national interest.
But earlier in the day, even as the Pakistan International flight from London flew into Rawalpindi, the tension exploded on to the streets.
More than 2,000 supporters of Sharif's Muslim League were reportedly arrested, tear gas and batons used on those who tried to reach the airport.
Even former president Rafiq Tarar was not spared.
The government was clearly leaving nothing to chance. But in the process, it also gave Sharif a great media opportunity. “They have stopped everything, cordoned roads, blocked traffic and have asked me to get an immigration done,” he told a contingent of mediamen.
He bickered with immigration officials over handing in his passport, there were reports of senior generals - perhaps from the ISI - and Saudi officials trying to persuade him to return to Saudi Arabia.
Sharif refused. Instead, he demanded that the security cordon around the airport be lifted.
“I have heard that there’s a flight waiting for me. I don’t know what the government wants or where it wants to take me,” he said.
One-and-a-half hours after he touched down, Sharif was seated at the VIP lounge demanding the media be allowed to move with him.
But Islamabad had decided that the drama had gone on long enough. The former prime minister was whisked into a military helicopter and flown off to an unknown destination, jail was the general belief.
But this was only subterfuge. Sharif was brought back and bundled into a PIA special flight bound for Jeddah Saudi Arabia.
The deportation came minutes after his arrest and the Supreme Court order that he be brought before it.
But in Jeddah, he did not arrive to the same rapturous welcome like he did in Pakistan. Editor of Jeddah’s Arab News, Syed Faisal Ali said it was quiet affair. “The moment Nawaz Sharif landed here, there was no reception as such. Only 5-6 Saudi officials were there to receive him and nobody from his party, friends or relatives were present,” he said.
Ali said Sharif was whisked away in a convoy and is currently under a house arrest of sorts. “He was taken straight to his house called the Sharif palace and is there with no access to outside world. I can’t use the term detention but media or relatives haven’t been allowed in. Since it’s not a democracy in Arabia, no such protest is allowed,” he told CNN-IBN.
So what did the events of the day imply? Columnist with Dawn News, Javed Naqvi, told CNN-IBN the drama has “fizzled out” being seen from Delhi. “Nawaz Sharif was expecting to come home to a milling crowd. But there weren’t really hundreds of thousands of people. The reason being Sharif is not a Pakistan-wide leader. He is a Punjab-based leader, that too a creation of the army. He was created by General Zia-ul-Haq as the CM of Punjab. Just how popular would anyone who is brought in by the Army be in Pakistan? What was happening in Pak today is that the other groups who have animosity against Musharraf’s regime - specially the right wing fundamentalists - were out protesting against the General,” he said.
What lies ahead
In Pakistan, Musharraf will also not have it easy. He will have to convince the Supreme Court that his government acted lawfully in deporting Sharif.
A petition lies before it filed by Kwaja Mohd Asif of the PML-N.
CNN-IBN has in its possession a copy of the agreement Nawaz Sharif had signed with the Saudis in 2000. The document is called the Confidentiality and Hold Harmless Agreement. But it reveals Sharif had agreed not to return to Pakistan for a period of 10 years.
In the agreement Sharif had also promised not to engage in any political or business activities detrimental to Pakistan. Sharif was promised freedom to travel, on the condition that he returns to his residence in Saudi Arabia.
Nawaz Sharif's brother, Shahbaz, had also entered into a similar agreement with the Saudi Arabian government.
So will Supreme Court take on Musharraf? Naqvi said it was an oxymoron to say that. “In Pakistan, the SC exists due to a dictator’s goodwill,” he said.
So while Supreme Court can actually initiate contempt charges on Tuesday - Nawaz’s lawyers will file a petition – the President can pardon anyone who has been given a sentence. The maximum punishment under contempt is six months and the fine is Rs 100,000.
Columnist with The News, Babar Satar – while analyzing the situation in Pakistan - told CNN-IBN that the direct legal consequences will not reach Musharraf. “In order to ensure a deal with PPP, it’s clear that Musharraf can even go to the extent of breaking the law. This will create a rift between judiciary and him. These battles will have to be ultimately fought in political arena. Today also established that a chance of a free and fair election is minimal as there is no level playing field in Pakistan. Sharif’s entry could have created some competition, but now that’s not a possibility,” said.
Former foreign secretary of India, Lalit ManSingh, also said the round one seemed to have gone in favour of Musharraf. “Though his political position has weakened, he holds a number of very strong cards. He is on the ground and has the army behind him. Powerful allies of Pakistan want Musharraf to stay and have a deal with Benazir,” he said.
Meanwhile, London is now emerging as the new fulcrum of the activity with Nawaz’s brother Shahbaaz Sharif expressing his desire to go to Pakisnat and take over from where Nawaz left eight years ago.
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