Word: sharif
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Like a Shakespearean tragedy, what may be the final chapter of General Pervez Musharraf's reign began with an ominous echo of the original sin in its first pages: the October 1999 coup by which he overthrew Nawaz Sharif, the democratically elected Prime Minister. Sharif's highly publicized return from exile on Sept. 10 lasted just four hours; Musharraf had him deported again, to Saudi Arabia. But if his first expulsion of Sharif brought Musharraf to power, the second may well hasten the general's downfall...
Over the weekend, Sharif's supporters had planned welcome-back parties even as they steeled for a showdown with security forces. Pundits had predicted mayhem in the streets. Many, including those closest to Sharif, expected the authorities to arrest him upon arrival on recently reopened charges of money laundering and corruption - charges his party leaders call "trumped-up and patently false." Tossing him in jail upon his arrival would not have been a popular move, but it would have been legal. Few thought Musharraf would be willing to risk the unfettered return of a once-loathed leader who has come...
...another term as President. After an enormous show of support from the Pakistani people, and massive rallies by the country's black-suited lawyers, Chief Justice Iftikhan Chaudhry was reinstated on July 20. Since then the feisty Supreme Court has ruled against the current government on several issues, including Sharif's right to return and a spate of disappearances linked to the government's notorious security agencies. In just a few days the Supreme Court is set to rule on the constitutionality of Musharraf's nomination for another term as President while still retaining the office of Army Chief. Musharraf...
Musharraf's tenure may be drawing to a close, but his strength is still quite visible. Over the weekend thousands of Sharif's supporters were detained or thrown in jail on specious charges. Last night the secretary general of his party was taken in by security forces, despite having set up a safe house in anticipation of such an occurrence. And a convoy of party leaders setting out for the airport to greet Sharif was stopped less than two miles from its departure point by scores of police armed with riot shields and metal-tipped bamboo staves. Parliamentarian Tamina Dultana...
...anticipated. Carrying a banner would have been too risky. "How could I have brought it?" Khan asks. "I was searched every time. I can chant or shout slogans when he comes out." He never got the chance. After more than four hours of waiting, word trickled out that Sharif had been sent to Saudi Arabia. The crowd dissipated and Khan wandered forlornly away, trying to find a car that could take him back to Peshawar...