FEATURE
FEATURES & ARTICLES
Press Trust Of India
Islamabad, August 25, 2007
First Published: 17:00 IST(25/8/2007)
Last Updated: 17:08 IST(25/8/2007)
An accountability court in Pakistan on Saturday refused a government plea to issue an arrest warrant against exiled former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in corruption cases.
The National Accountability Bureau had asked the court to issue arrest warrants against Sharif and his family members.
But judge Chaudhry Khalid Mehmood rejected the anti-graft panel's plea and said that the Supreme Court had ruled that Sharif and his brother Shahbaz Sharif can return to Pakistan and no warrant will be issued unless they are back.
The Supreme Court had on August 23 ruled that the Sharif brothers had an "inalienable right" to return and stay in the country as citizens of Pakistan.
The court had asked the government not to create any hindrance in the return of Sharifs, who were sent into exile in 2000 after General Pervez Musharraf seized power in a bloodless coup.
The accountability court had adjourned the hearing of the corruption cases in April 2001 for an indefinite period at the request of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB).
But the NAB recently filed an application in the court for re-opening of three corruption cases against Nawaz Sharif and members of his family after he asserted his wish to return to the country.
Nine members of Sharif family including Nawaz Sharif, his brother Shahbaz, son and daughter are named in the cases.
The court set September seven for the next hearing.
Islamabad, August 25, 2007
First Published: 17:00 IST(25/8/2007)
Last Updated: 17:08 IST(25/8/2007)
An accountability court in Pakistan on Saturday refused a government plea to issue an arrest warrant against exiled former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in corruption cases.
The National Accountability Bureau had asked the court to issue arrest warrants against Sharif and his family members.
But judge Chaudhry Khalid Mehmood rejected the anti-graft panel's plea and said that the Supreme Court had ruled that Sharif and his brother Shahbaz Sharif can return to Pakistan and no warrant will be issued unless they are back.
The Supreme Court had on August 23 ruled that the Sharif brothers had an "inalienable right" to return and stay in the country as citizens of Pakistan.
The court had asked the government not to create any hindrance in the return of Sharifs, who were sent into exile in 2000 after General Pervez Musharraf seized power in a bloodless coup.
The accountability court had adjourned the hearing of the corruption cases in April 2001 for an indefinite period at the request of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB).
But the NAB recently filed an application in the court for re-opening of three corruption cases against Nawaz Sharif and members of his family after he asserted his wish to return to the country.
Nine members of Sharif family including Nawaz Sharif, his brother Shahbaz, son and daughter are named in the cases.
The court set September seven for the next hearing.
Pak court refuses to issue arrest warrant against Sharif
Pakistan's Supreme Court has urged the government to release dozens of people rounded up by the intelligence agencies in the US-led war against terror.
Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry said there was "overwhelming evidence" that many missing people were being held in government custody.
President Musharraf suspended Mr Chaudhry earlier this year.
But he was reinstated in July and has become a key figure of opposition to the president.
Before his suspension, Mr Chaudhry had taken up the cases of missing people believed to be in government custody.
It was one of a number of issues that saw him and the government being drawn into conflict.
'Respectable way'
Mr Chaudhry made his comments on Tuesday while hearing petitions from some 40 families seeking the whereabouts of their missing relatives.
He said the government had to charge them or release them.
"It has been established that these people are in the custody of (spy) agencies," Mr Chaudhry said, the Associated Press news agency reports.
"Choose a respectable way and release all the missing persons... we have overwhelming evidence that people are in your custody," he told the deputy attorney general.
Hundreds of people have gone missing in Pakistan since 2001 after Pakistan decided to support the US war on terror in the wake of the 11 September attacks.
Rights groups say they are illegally detained by security agencies for alleged links with radical groups.
Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry said there was "overwhelming evidence" that many missing people were being held in government custody.
President Musharraf suspended Mr Chaudhry earlier this year.
But he was reinstated in July and has become a key figure of opposition to the president.
Before his suspension, Mr Chaudhry had taken up the cases of missing people believed to be in government custody.
It was one of a number of issues that saw him and the government being drawn into conflict.
'Respectable way'
Mr Chaudhry made his comments on Tuesday while hearing petitions from some 40 families seeking the whereabouts of their missing relatives.
He said the government had to charge them or release them.
"It has been established that these people are in the custody of (spy) agencies," Mr Chaudhry said, the Associated Press news agency reports.
"Choose a respectable way and release all the missing persons... we have overwhelming evidence that people are in your custody," he told the deputy attorney general.
Hundreds of people have gone missing in Pakistan since 2001 after Pakistan decided to support the US war on terror in the wake of the 11 September attacks.
Rights groups say they are illegally detained by security agencies for alleged links with radical groups.
Pakistan missing 'should be free'
Chief Justice Chaudhry was reinstated after suspension
Saudi Arabia has asked Pakistan's exiled ex-PM Nawaz Sharif not to return to the country, citing a commitment he made in 2001, local media say.
Mr Sharif's government was overthrown in a military coup in 1999, and he was exiled to Saudi Arabia in 2001.
He has announced his plans to return home on 10 September to challenge President Pervez Musharraf.
His return poses the most serious threat to an increasingly fragile government, led by Gen Musharraf.
Last month, Mr Sharif filed a petition in the supreme court pleading his right to return to Pakistan.
The court upheld the petition, overruling documents produced by the government that showed Mr Sharif had undertaken to stay away from the country for 10 years.
'No change of plan'
Recent media reports claim that Gen Musharraf has made several presentations to the Saudi government seeking their help in preventing Mr Sharif's return.
The Pakistani authorities have been indicating that the exile deal with Mr Sharif was struck with the mediation of some Saudi dignitaries.
MUSHARRAF UNDER PRESSURE 9 March: Musharraf suspends chief justice for "abuse of power". Lawyers protest April: Protests grow, amid clashes with police 12 May: 34 people die as rival political groups clash in Karachi 11 July: 102 people die when army storms radical Red Mosque in Islamabad July-Aug: Sharp rise in suicide attacks by pro-Taleban militants 20 July: Supreme Court reinstates chief justice 9 Aug: Musharraf rejects emergency rule 23 Aug: Supreme Court says exiled ex-PM Nawaz Sharif can return
The official Saudi Press Agency on Tuesday quoted an unnamed government spokesman as saying that Mr Sharif should fulfil his promises.
"Wisdom demands that Mr Nawaz Sharif commit himself to the promises he made - namely, not to return to Pakistan and to political activity," he said.
He denied Pakistani media reports that Saudi Arabia had expressed "satisfaction and support" for the return of Mr Sharif and his family to Pakistan.
The spokesman said the Saudi government agreed to receive Mr Sharif in 2001 "as a humanitarian gesture".
A spokesman for Mr Sharif's PMLN party in London said the former prime minister's travel plans to Pakistan were not subject to any change.
Mr Sharif served two terms as prime minister in 1990-93 and 1997-99.
He was sentenced to life in prison for offences including tax evasion and treason after the 1999 coup.
Pakistani authorities say Mr Sharif promised to stay out of the country and away from politics for 10 years in exchange for his freedom.
But last week the country's Supreme Court ruled that he and his family had "an inalienable right to return and remain in the country as citizens of Pakistan".
He has announced his plans to return home on 10 September to challenge President Pervez Musharraf.
His return poses the most serious threat to an increasingly fragile government, led by Gen Musharraf.
Last month, Mr Sharif filed a petition in the supreme court pleading his right to return to Pakistan.
The court upheld the petition, overruling documents produced by the government that showed Mr Sharif had undertaken to stay away from the country for 10 years.
'No change of plan'
Recent media reports claim that Gen Musharraf has made several presentations to the Saudi government seeking their help in preventing Mr Sharif's return.
The Pakistani authorities have been indicating that the exile deal with Mr Sharif was struck with the mediation of some Saudi dignitaries.
MUSHARRAF UNDER PRESSURE 9 March: Musharraf suspends chief justice for "abuse of power". Lawyers protest April: Protests grow, amid clashes with police 12 May: 34 people die as rival political groups clash in Karachi 11 July: 102 people die when army storms radical Red Mosque in Islamabad July-Aug: Sharp rise in suicide attacks by pro-Taleban militants 20 July: Supreme Court reinstates chief justice 9 Aug: Musharraf rejects emergency rule 23 Aug: Supreme Court says exiled ex-PM Nawaz Sharif can return
The official Saudi Press Agency on Tuesday quoted an unnamed government spokesman as saying that Mr Sharif should fulfil his promises.
"Wisdom demands that Mr Nawaz Sharif commit himself to the promises he made - namely, not to return to Pakistan and to political activity," he said.
He denied Pakistani media reports that Saudi Arabia had expressed "satisfaction and support" for the return of Mr Sharif and his family to Pakistan.
The spokesman said the Saudi government agreed to receive Mr Sharif in 2001 "as a humanitarian gesture".
A spokesman for Mr Sharif's PMLN party in London said the former prime minister's travel plans to Pakistan were not subject to any change.
Mr Sharif served two terms as prime minister in 1990-93 and 1997-99.
He was sentenced to life in prison for offences including tax evasion and treason after the 1999 coup.
Pakistani authorities say Mr Sharif promised to stay out of the country and away from politics for 10 years in exchange for his freedom.
But last week the country's Supreme Court ruled that he and his family had "an inalienable right to return and remain in the country as citizens of Pakistan".
"We are making our own plans to return to the country."
Bhutto vows early Pakistan return
Ms Bhutto will announce the details of her return on 14 September
Former Pakistani PM Benazir Bhutto says she will return to the country "very soon", despite having reached no power-sharing deal with the government.
Ms Bhutto had been in talks to become PM again, with beleaguered Gen Pervez Musharraf stepping down as army chief but seeking a new term as president.
Ms Bhutto said she would announce the date of her return on 14 September.
Another former PM, Nawaz Sharif, has announced he will return on 10 September to challenge Gen Musharraf.
Ms Bhutto was speaking at a press conference in London, where she had been meeting key officials of her Pakistan People's Party.
Ms Bhutto said: "We have been in contact with the present regime on the restoration of democracy."
She said the talks were "80% successful" but that differences remained on "the sovereignty of parliament and the presidential and parliamentary elections".
Ms Bhutto added: "We are making our own plans to return to the country." She said Pakistan needed "internal reconciliation".
"We must return to the roots of moderation and democracy and ensuring governmental authority the length and breadth of the country." Ms Bhutto has served two terms as prime minister - from 1988 to 1990 and from 1993 to 1996.
She was dismissed for alleged corruption on both occasions but has steadfastly denied all accusations. She left Pakistan in 1999 and has not returned.
Although she has not been convicted, corruption charges still hang over her.
Gen Musharraf is seeking support in his hopes to be re-elected as president. But he is under pressure, including from the US, to honour a commitment to stand down as army chief.
Gen Musharraf has also suffered a number of legal setbacks, including a Supreme Court ruling that the exiled Mr Sharif can return. Gen Musharraf overthrew Mr Sharif in a coup in 1999. The former PM was jailed for life but then exiled. He could still face arrest when he returns. Under current Pakistani law, prime ministers cannot serve more than two terms - which would disqualify both Ms Bhutto and Mr Sharif.
At her press conference, Ms Bhutto said Mr Sharif had embarked on a "personal vendetta" against Gen Musharraf.
