Word: sharif
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Musharraf's early departure is not guaranteed. He could drag things out by declaring martial law, but that would be highly unpopular, even within the military, which doesn't want a confrontation with an angry populace. Sharif's party faithful, undaunted by their leader's absence and the arrest of many of his aides, are planning mass protests. They are likely to be joined by a wide swath of Pakistani society, from Islamist parties to liberal lawyers and professors. Al-Qaeda and other extremist militants in the tribal areas bordering Afghanistan, meanwhile, are capitalizing on popular discontent to reinvigorate their...
...fact to leave both leaders discredited and weakened, then U.S. interests in Pakistan--continued help in the war against al-Qaeda, protection of the country's nuclear arsenal and the strengthening of the moderate majority against the extremist fringe--might be better served by the man both leaders despise: Sharif. The Bush Administration is skeptical. The State Department official describes Sharif as "a player with a mixed record." As Prime Minister, he had a good relationship with the Clinton Administration, allowing the U.S. in 1998 to use Pakistani airspace for missile attacks against al-Qaeda bases in Afghanistan. He also...
...What Sharif does have going for him is a groundswell of public support. Unofficial polls conducted by government agencies show that even before his deportation, Sharif's numbers were climbing. Many of the groups that demonstrated across the country this summer when Musharraf tried to sack the Supreme Court justice have thrown their support behind Sharif. As a center-right politician, he also has close ties to religious parties, which would allow him to build a broad coalition. He lacks support in Washington, but as Musharraf and Bhutto continue to fade, that could--and should--change...
After Pakistan's Supreme Court sanctioned his return, former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif flew back to his country on board a Pakistan International Airways plane only to be unceremoniously deported. TIME spoke to his brother and key political collaborator Shahbaz, who is based in London. Excerpts...
TIME: When was the last time you spoke to your brother? SHAHBAZ SHARIF: [On Monday evening] he told me very clearly, "Shahbaz, I was shaken. They had a very clever plan, that I would be arrested, taken to the arrivals lounge. I told them from London that I was prepared to face any of these concocted charges against me, that I was prepared to go to prison, to go anywhere they wanted to take me in Pakistan. I don't mind that." And then they whisked him away from the lounge to the tarmac where there was a plane...