Click to play videoNew Delhi: The Pakistan Supreme Court on Thursday cleared the way for deposed prime minister Nawaz Sharif to return to his country.
The former prime minister had been sent to exile by General Musharraf after he took the reins in Pakistan in a coup on October 12, 1999.
The SC order came as a big blow to Gen Pervez Musharraf, who has been battling internal crises in the face growing protest against his policies and his refusal to shed the uniform.
The court also allowed Nawaz's brother Shahbaz to return to Pakistan.
Reacting to the court verdict, Nawaz Sharif said he will return to Pakistan soon. "This is a victory for the people of Pakistan. I am coming back to Pakistan," he told CNN-IBN.
A seven-member bench of the top court, headed by Chief Justice Ifthikhar Chowdhury, ruled that the former PM and his brother have an inalienable right to return and remain in the country as its citizens.
The court said the return of the Sharif brothers could not be restricted or hampered by federal or provincial government or other agencies. The court order in effect also means that Mr Sharif can also participate in the coming General Elections in Pakistan.
The Pakistani Government had earlier submitted to the apex court a copy of a so-called 'exile' pact between the Musharraf regime and Nawaz Sharif in response to petitions filed by Sharif and his brother Shahbaz, which sought a directive to the authorities not to obstruct their return home to take part in the General Elections slated for later this year.
Nawaz Sharif, however, denied that he had entered into any 'exile' deal with the Musharraf regime and said that the copy of the 'agreement' submitted by the Pakistani government to the Supreme Court was a 'fraud'.
"It's a fraud and a drama. If there is any deal, there would be no need of distributing photocopies. The government is blackmailing me and the entire nation," The News reported, quoting the deposed premier as saying.
The former PM and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz chief said the original documents should be with the person with whom the alleged 'agreement' was made. "In reality, there's no such agreement."
"The Musharraf regime is only spreading rumours that emergency will be enforced on 160 million people after hearing that I'm returning. It is being done to terrorise us and stop us from returning to the country," he claimed.
Sharif said the then Pakistani President Rafiq Tarar's response was positive as he knew everything. "I had not signed the agreement for clemency and the letter written to President Tarar did not contain any agreement and it was a public document that was published in newspapers."
However, the deposed premier admitted reaching an understanding with Saudi Arabia. "I think its unnecessary publicity should not be made as it is a matter of high sensitivity. Our friendly country is abiding by the understanding and we should also abide by it."
(For updates you can share with your friends, follow IBNLive on Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and Pinterest)
More on IBNLive Right Now
MOST SHARED
PHOTOGALLERY
