Sharif returns, says won't bend before Musharraf

New Delhi: Exiled former Prime Minister of Pakistan Nawaz Sharif returned home on Sunday to crowds of jubilant supporters, adding to the volatility of a country shaken by political turmoil and militant violence.

The aircraft - provided to Sharif by Saudi royal family - landed at the Allama Iqbal airport a little before 1900 hrs IST after departing from the Saudi city of Medina.

Sharif, who was ousted by General Pervez Musharraf eight years ago and exiled to Saudi Arabia a year later, returns to a country under Emergency rule and in political turmoil.

It is his second return from exile. The first attempt, on September 10, lasted just hours before he was unceremoniously deported again despite a Supreme Court ruling allowing him to remain.

Lahore police have made extensive security arrangements for Sharif’s return with about 5,000 security personnel posted in the city.

Only senior PML-N office bearers and former party MPs have been allowed to come to the airport to receive him.

But thousands of workers and leaders of his PML-N party gathered outside the Allama Iqbal airport to greet Sharif despite orders issued by the authorities to prevent gatherings of five or more people.

Arriving ahead of the January elections, Sharif asked Musharraf to ensure free and fair polls.

" Musharraf has to first roll back all that he has done since November three, that is very essential, everything he has done since November three has to be reversed and rolled back completely before we could discuss about the possibility of any talks," Sharif said in Medina prior to his departure to Lahore.

When asked if he would agree to a power-sharing deal that envisaged Musharraf as President and him as Prime Minister, Sharif said: "No, no, no, no question."

"I can't alone decide, of course the All Parties Democratic Movement can decide on it (holding talks with Musharraf," the 57-year-old leader of Pakistan Muslim League (N) added.

Many supporters broke through police barricades and entered the airport, shouting slogans and waving posters and the PML-N's green flags.

Officials speaking off the record in Islamabad hinted at a Musharraf-Nawaz understanding which includes no confrontational politics.

The former Prime Minister's party is already celebrating in Lahore. However, Pakistan government says that it is a bad idea. It has warned of suicide attacks which leaves the field open for detention and house arrests upon arrival.

This will be Sharif’s another shot at returning to his native land from Saudi Arabia where he has been living in exile for the last seven years.

The last time he tried to touch down in Pakistan in September 2007 he was arrested on corruption charges and later deported to Jeddah.

A member of Pakistan's ruling party said he was given an option of going abroad or going to jail. Sharif opted for the latter.

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Reports from Islamabad say that the Sharif family, including wife Kulsoom, will file their nominations for the January elections.

But Sharif's party, the PML-N, has demanded that Musharraf lift martial rule within four days or face a boycott of the elections.

Sharif, along with his 19 family members, was sent into exile to Saudi Arabia by President Pervez Musharraf in December 2000, almost a year after his government was overthrown in a bloodless coup in October 1999.

The Timeline

Nawaz Sharif's return to Pakistan has certainly thrown everything up in the air, as he comes back to possibly stand for elections that will be presided over the very General who toppled him in a coup. Given below is a brief timeline:

1999

• October 12: Nawaz Sharif ousted from power and placed under house arrest after he tried to ack the then Army Chief, Pervez Musharraf
• October 15: Musharraf Declares Emergency, suspends the Constitution and proclaims himself the country's Chief Executive
• November 10: Case of treason and conspiracy to murder registered against Sharif
• November 18: Sharif formally arrested and flown to Karachi
• January 19: Sharif and six co-accused, including his brother Shahbaz, charged with abduction, attempted murder, hijacking and terrorism

2000

• April 6: Sharif sentenced to two life-terms, confiscation of his property ordered
• May 12: Hearing begins in a corruption case against Sharif at an anti-graft court in the Attock Fort
• June 2: Judge indicts Sharif on charges of concealing assets and tax evasion for hiding the purchase of Mi8 helicopter in his income tax returns
• July 22: Sharif is sentenced to 14 years and banned from public office for 21 years on corruption charges. Judge also fines him $USD 380,000
• December 10: Sharif is pardoned. Goes into exile in Saudi Arabia with his family

2001

• February 12: Saudi Arabia asks Sharif to surrender passport

2005

• June 29: Pakistan asks Sharif's brother Shahbaz to leave country
• July 7: Sharif rules out any deal with Musharraf

2006

• November 7: Pakistan issues passport to Sharif enabling him to travel to London with his sick son

2007

• July 20, 2007: Pakistan Supreme Court reinstates Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhary and quashes the charges against him
• August 3: Sharif moves apex court for return to Pakistan
• August 23: Supreme Court rules Sharif can return from exile
• August 30: Sharif announces he will return to Pakistan on September 10
• September 7, 2007: Pakistani court orders arrest of Sharif's brother Shahbaz on murder charges. Government asks another court to grant arrest warrant for Nawaz on corruption charges
• September 10: Sharif's plane from London touches down at Islamabad airport
• September 10: Sharif deported to Jeddah
• September 20: Pakistan to hold presidential elections on October 6, its Election Commission announced
• September 25: Benazir’s party PPP says it will field candidate in election
• September 27: Musharraf files nomination papers for a second term as President. Supreme Court orders release of opposition detainees
• September 28, 2007: Supreme Court says Musharraf can stand in the election while keeping his position as army chief. Pak SC issues notice to PM Aziz for deporting Sharif
• October 2: Musharraf appoints Gen Kiyani to succeed him as Army Chief
• October 4: PPP and the government agree on a draft agreement that would grant former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto amnesty in corruption cases and allow her to return to the country.
• October 5: Pakistan's Supreme Court ruled that the Presidential poll can be held as scheduled on October 6
• October 6: Musharraf wins Presidential vote but will have to wait for SC verdict
• October 17: Sharif's PML-N party says he should delay his second return bid to Pakistan till November 15, when a neutral caretaker government is expected to be in place to supervise the next year's general election
• October 18: In the worst ever terror strike in Pakistan, at least 139 people were killed and over 500 others injured when a suicide bomber targeting former Prime Minister Benzair Bhutto blew himself up during her homecoming. She was unhurt
• November 3: Musharraf declares emergency, sacks Chief Justice of Supreme Court
• November 13: Sharif welcomes Benazir turning against Musharraf, says opposition should unite
• November 14: Sharif says he is ready to work with Bhutto
• November 20: President Pervez Musharraf embarked on a brief visit to Saudi Arabia during which he met King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz and apparently discussed about the possible return of Sharif
• November 24: Former Pakistani premier Nawaz Sharif came to an "understanding" with senior officials ahead of his planned return
• November 25: Sharif returns to Pakistan for a second time from exile

(With inputs from PTI, AP)