Chowrangi

Nawaz Sharif though politically made a blunder, when he revealed two days prior to his return to Pakistan, that he had a written understanding with Saudi government to not to come back for 10 years, and it was also understood verbally that the practical exile would be for five years, his point is valid that he hadn’t had any agreement written or otherwise with the Pakistani government, and then Supreme Court has also in its verdict has nullified any such agreement which bars any citizen to give up its alienated rights. Coming back to his own country and living in that is such a right.

Lord Nazir Ahmad, who accompanied Mian Nawaz Sharif from London to Islamabad told in a press conference, that Nawaz Sharif really didn’t know that he would be man-handled by the security forces, and that government would ridicule the SC verdict. Up till the last moment, Nawaz Sharif, League workers who came with him from London, and the media had the impression that Nawaz Sharif had been arrested and been moved to some jail, but he was flown back to Jeddah.

Nawaz Sharif may have achieved some political loss or benefit from this whole event, and the government may have also got some temporary relief from it, or may consider it a victory to foil the welcome of PML-N leader and to send him back, but the real loss has been the bad name Pakistan has got across the world. The image of Musharraf government in the outside world as a tolerant, progressive and brave regime has been badly shattered, and the loss is irreparable.

These steps of intolerance and rigid stubbornness are taking the country no where. Nawaz Sharif wasn’t that popular before this act of the regime, but now he is. The silent majority has silently tilted towards the exiled leader. To add insult to the injury, the finalized deal between Musharraf and Benazir has also made the future of Benazir bleak, which was already not that rosy. Perhaps Benazir has struck deal with General, because she knows very well that she cannot rule Pakistan in any other way.

Other posts by Commoner

• Toadies of Dictator - August 20th, 2008
• Promise of Judiciary - August 20th, 2008
• Pervez Musharraf: A Dictator Departs - August 18th, 2008
• Pervez Musharraf Highlights - August 18th, 2008
• US Chuck Mush - August 18th, 2008
• Charge Ahead - August 17th, 2008
• Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi Supports Musharraf's Safe Passage - August 17th, 2008
• Musharraf's Wings Dried Up - August 16th, 2008
• Safe Passage for Musharraf - August 15th, 2008
• Tension Haywire in FATA - August 15th, 2008