| Page 2 of 2 < |
Throngs Welcome Pakistan's Ex-Leader
Nawaz Sharif, the Pakistani prime minister overthrown by the army in 1999, right, and his brother Shahbaz Sharif wave to their supporters at Lahore's airport.
(By B.k. Bangash -- Associated Press)
TOOLBOX
   Resize
COMMENT
 Discussion Policy
 CLOSE
Comments that include profanity or personal attacks or other inappropriate comments or material will be removed from the site. Additionally, entries that are unsigned or contain "signatures" by someone other than the actual author will be removed. Finally, we will take steps to block users who violate any of our posting standards, terms of use or privacy policies or any other policies governing this site. Please review the full rules governing commentaries and discussions. You are fully responsible for the content that you post.
Who's Blogging  |
"The lion is back, the lion is back!" chanted a group of women in bright dresses and scarves who had driven from the city of Rawalpindi to greet Sharif. They interspersed their adulatory slogans with insulting jeers against Musharraf and his military rule.
[an error occurred while processing this directive]"I have kissed the hand of Nawaz Sharif!" exulted Rehan Butt, an airline worker who waited 12 hours to see the former prime minister at the airport. Like many in the crowd, he said Sharif was the only leader who could restore stability and democracy to Pakistan.
Others, asked about Sharif's accomplishments during his tenure as prime minister in the 1990s, mentioned the production of Pakistan's first nuclear weapon, the construction of a highway from Lahore to the capital, Islamabad, and Sharif's compassion for the poor.
Sharif's administration was also marked by allegations of corruption and power-grabbing. His popularity had fallen considerably by the time he was overthrown on Oct. 12, 1999. That day, he had attempted to oust Musharraf as army chief by refusing to let his plane land after a trip abroad. Musharraf landed anyway, had Sharif arrested and sent him into exile a year later with an agreement to stay away for 10 years in exchange for avoiding a life prison sentence.
Sharif's public image in Pakistan has soared in recent months as Musharraf's star has fallen and the general has resorted to repressive measures in a fight for his political survival. Sharif is neither as charismatic nor as intellectual as Bhutto, his perennial rival, but she has lost considerable popular support by flirting with the idea of a political deal with Musharraf.
Sharif's return was considered highly unlikely until just weeks ago. It was arranged with the strong urging of the Saudi royal family, which reportedly thought he should be allowed to return after Bhutto's arrival .
"This is the first time in the history of Pakistan that a leader deposed by a military dictator has come back to challenge him," said Ehsan Iqbal, a close aide to Sharif who welcomed him at the airport. "His return will make a big difference in the balance of democratic forces."
