Posted on 09/09/2007 2:01:13 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan - Police manned roadblocks and rounded up supporters of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif who left London Sunday after seven years in exile to return to Pakistan and lead a campaign to topple the country's U.S.-allied military ruler.
Before leaving London, Sharif warned that President Gen. Pervez Musharraf's government might try to arrest or deport him. At the last minute, he asked his brother Shahbaz Sharif to remain in Britain so that he can lead the party in case anything happens to the former prime minister.
THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (AP) — Police manned roadblocks and rounded up supporters of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Sunday as he prepared to end seven years in exile and return to Pakistan to lead a campaign to topple the country's U.S.-allied military ruler.
The government of President Gen. Pervez Musharraf, who ousted Sharif's elected government in a 1999 coup, has hinted it may arrest him when he arrives on Monday, a move likely to sharpen political tensions ahead of presidential and legislative elections and one that may trigger street violence.
The looming showdown could further weaken Musharraf's faltering grip on power and comes as the country battles surging Islamic extremism that has spread from the Afghan border, where Osama bin Laden and other al-Qaida leaders are believed to be hiding.
"I know that this is a risky course for me and there can be dangers in it," Sharif told Pakistan's Geo TV channel in an interview broadcast Sunday. "But I am doing this for Pakistan. Nothing else can be more pleasing for me then freeing (Pakistan) from the clutches of military dictatorship. I will be happy that for a small price — my going to jail — Pakistan will get freedom."
Sharif plans to return with his brother Shabhaz Sharif, who last week had an arrest warrant issued against him in connection with a murder case. Scores of journalists and party workers are also booked on the plane, a commercial flight that is scheduled to transit in Oman.
After arriving in Islamabad, the Sharifs plan to travel in a motorcade to their home and political base in Lahore, about 180 miles to the south. The trip through Punjab province could take three days as he greets supporters along the way, Sharif's party said.
More than 2,000 Sharif supporters in Punjab have been detained in a crackdown over the past four days, and others have gone into hiding, said Ahsan Iqbal, a spokesman for Sharif's party. Police and security officials, speaking on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue, confirmed about 700 arrests.
On Sunday, police in Lahore with orders to search for members of Sharif's party stopped cars on the main road leading to Islamabad, witnesses said. Police also manned checkpoints in and around the capital. Media reports said authorities planned to prevent anyone traveling to the city's international airport on Monday morning unless they were booked on an outward flight.
"It's extremely important to show that people are sick and tired of this dictatorial regime," said Zulfikar Ali Khan Khosa, president of the Punjab branch of Sharif's party, predicting huge crowds would travel to the airport despite the crackdown.
Analysts say Sharif's return could crank up the pressure on Musharraf and upset talks on a power-sharing pact with his longtime rival Benazir Bhutto, another exiled former premier plotting a political comeback.
Musharraf wants to win a new five-year presidential term from lawmakers by mid-October, while both Sharif and Bhutto want to contest general elections due by mid-January 2008.
Musharraf, who has received billions of dollars in U.S. aid to help in the country's fight against al-Qaida, has seen his popularity shrink since his failed attempt to fire Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammed Chaudhry earlier this year spurred calls for an end to military rule.
Bhutto says she also plans to return to Pakistan, regardless of the outcome of the talks. She is due to announce her return date on Sept. 14.
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Associated Press writer Sadaqat Jan in Islamabad, Stephen Graham in Lahore and Zarar Khan in London contributed to this report.
Former Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, right, and his brother, left, prepare to board a plane to Pakistan, at London's Heathrow airport, Sunday Sept. 9, 2007. Pakistan's exiled former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif plans to return home Monday to campaign against its military ruler, defying last-minute pressure from Saudi Arabia to honor an agreement to remain in exile. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis)
This is going to get ugly..
Film at 11.
Supporters of former Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif hold a rally in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, Sunday, September 9, 2007. Pakistan on Sunday stepped up airport security, banned rallies and detained opposition activists a day before former Sharif's planned return to challenge the military ruler who sent him into exile seven years ago. (AP Photo/Vincent Thian)
An armored police vehicle moves inside the Islamabad airport, Sunday, Sept. 9, 2007 in Islamabad, Pakistan. Police manned roadblocks and rounded up supporters of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Sunday as he prepared to end seven years in exile and return to Pakistan to lead a campaign to topple the country's U.S.-allied military ruler. (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed)
According to Angkor:
Sharif’s brother-in-law is the biggest heroin dealer in Pakistan.
http://209.157.64.200/focus/f-news/1893402/posts?page=3#3
With the history of corruption, crime, drug dealing and weapons technology exchange practiced by the Pakistani “ruling elites” — this can only end with lots of folks dead, and the U.S. ending up at greater risk as the result of Pakistan realigning with their militant Isalmist lunatic majority.
This may make necessary the “elimination” of military threat from Iran, Pakistan and Syria at the same time.....
There is no question that one day we MUST confront the bastards, the only question is WHEN is it to our best advantage to do so....
Saudi Arabia is the womb and pocket book for the militant Islamists, Iran is the sperm donor and Pakistan is the vagina from whence they emerge..
Judging from the outcome — I suspect anal deliveries...
Standing BY for a MOAB drop!
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