UK: Exiled former Pakistani Prime Minister, Nawaz Sharif vows to return to Pakistan

Record ID: 336261

  • Title: UK: Exiled former Pakistani Prime Minister, Nawaz Sharif vows to return to Pakistan
  • Date: 9th September 2007
  • Summary: (W4) LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM (SEPTEMBER 8, 2007) (REUTERS) SOUNDBITE (English) FORMER PAKISTANI PRIME MINISTER, NAWAZ SHARIF, SAYING: "It is very clear, and we have very clear aims and objectives. There is no personal agenda. The aims and objectives are that we want to ensure restoration of rule of law. We want to ensure the independence of the judiciary., we want to ensure
  • Embargoed: 24th September 2007 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: Domestic Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVABTH5PHTOF3HMM8SSBF7HACPKF
  • Story Text: Exiled former Pakistani Prime Minister, Nawaz Sharif has told reporters in London that it is his duty to return to Pakistan and fight against the dictatorship of President Pervez Musharraf.
    Pakistan's former prime minister Nawaz Sharif said today (Saturday) he would return home from exile despite a call from a Saudi official for him to stay away for the sake of Pakistani stability.
    Speaking to reporters from his office in London, Mr Sharif said he is saddened by the reaction of Saudi Arabia to his imminent return to Pakistan.
    "I have a great respect for His Majesty King Abdullah. I have the highest of respects for him and I have today said there is a - for me - there is a call of duty and I have also explained the background of this understanding which was reached between us an Mr Saad al-Hariri and your colleagues will tell you the details of that understanding," Sharif said.
    "So according to the understanding it is five years and not ten years that we had to stay abroad, so we have now stayed for almost seven years. So we are therefore going back to Pakistan to play our national duty and perform our national responsibilities, because I owe it to the people of Pakistan, and the people of Pakistan are looking up to me to lead the struggle against dictatorship and for a long-lasting undiluted democracy in Pakistan," said Mr Sharif.
    Sharif, the premier whom army chief and president Pervez Musharraf ousted in 1999 and sent into exile in Saudi Arabia the following year, is due to arrive home from London on Monday (September 10). He has vowed to launch a campaign to end Musharraf's rule and restore an undiluted Pakistani democracy.
    Speaking at a news conference in London, Sharif said he would return to Pakistan as planned.
    "I am, God willing, coming on the 10th of September and please don't try to stop me and run around here and there and find ways and means to stop me from coming back because my program to go back to Pakistan is firm," Sharif said.
    The return of Sharif is a serious challenge for Musharraf, who has lost much public support since trying to dismiss the country's top judge in March.
    The government has been trying to block Sharif's return, at least until after Musharraf tries to secure another term in a presidential election by the national and provincial assemblies some time between September 15 and October
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2011. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register