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| Nawaz returns to rapturous reception | | | Lahore | Nov 25
Former premier Nawaz Sharif arrived here today to a rapturous welcome by supporters after a seven-year exile in Saudi Arabia, demanding that military ruler Pervez Musharraf, who ousted him in 1999, rollback emergency and provide "a level playing field" in January elections.
Wearing his trademark attire, the traditional white salwar suit and a black waistcoat, Sharif, 57, arrived in a special aircraft provided by the Saudi royal family at 6.15 PM (6.45 PM IST) amid tight security.
Thousands of Pakistan Muslim League (N) workers, chanting "Long live Sharif!" and "Go Musharraf go", massed outside the Allama Iqbal airport to greet Sharif despite orders issued by the authorities to prevent gatherings of five or more people.
"I thank God that I have arrived in Pakistan," the two-time prime minister told party leaders who greeted him on his second homecoming in three months which was distinctly different from his return in September, when he was arrested and bundled off to Saudi Arabia by Musharraf within four hours of landing in Islamabad.
This time, however, Musharraf had approved of his return following intervention by Saudi Arabia, where Sharif has been living in exile since being ousted, and breakdown of power-sharing talks between the General and another former premier Benazir Bhutto.
Declaring that he did not believe in politics of "vengeance", Sharif said "we will fully participate in the national politics", indicating that his party will contest the general elections for which the filing of nominations will end tomorrow.
Arriving ahead of the January elections, Sharif asked Musharraf to ensure a "level playing field" to facilitate free and fair polls.
"He (Musharraf) has to first roll back all that he has done since November three, that is very essential, everything he has done since November three has to be reversed and rolled back completely before we could discuss about the possibility of any talks," Sharif said in Medina prior to his departure to Lahore.
Asked if he would agree to a power-sharing deal that envisaged Musharraf as President and him as Prime Minister, Sharif said: "No, no, no, no question."
"I can't alone decide, of course the All Parties Democratic Movement can decide on it (holding talks with Musharraf," the 57-year-old leader of Pakistan Muslim League (N) added.
Many supporters broke through police barricades and entered the airport, shouting slogans and waving posters and the PML-N's green flags.
After disembarking from the aircraft, Sharif and his brother Shahbaz were escorted to the airport building by a large group of policemen.They were hugged and embraced by many PML-N leaders.
Party workers jostled with each other and policemen to get a glimpse of their leader. Some party workers carried Shahbaz on their shoulders when he and a jubilant Sharif emerged from the VIP lounge.
The scenes were reminiscent of former premier and Pakistan People's Party leader Benazir Bhutto's return to Karachi from eight years in exile on October 18, though the turnout for Sharif was smaller. |
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