Ex-PM Sharif Returns to Pakistan, Gets Deported

Nawaz Sharif' used to be prime minister of Pakistan. Then, a general named Pervez Musharraf mounted a coup, and Mr. Sharif left for exile in London. He tried to return to Pakistan, in accordance with a ruling by that nation’s Supreme Court permitting him to come home. This morning, his plane touched down in Lahore, he was arrested, and he found himself on a plane to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. One scarcely knows where to begin in describing the mess that Pakistan is becoming.

Mr. Sharif’s supporters clashed with police while the drama on the tarmac played out, but their numbers (the Associated Press put the figure at 200) suggest that they aren’t as numerous as a people-power revolution would demand. Instead, they seem to be the very people who would benefit directly from his return. They complained of being tear gassed and suffering baton charges.

This is no surprise, however. If they believe their own propaganda, they are fighting against a military dictatorship. Those tend to be quite comfortable with violence against their own people. And it wouldn’t be surprising if Ahsan Iqbal, a spokesman for Sharif’s party, were telling the truth when he said 2,000 of Mr. Sharif’s supporters have been arrested in recent days and a great many others have gone into hiding. That’s how the game’s played.

There is, however, another actor on the stage, and that is Benazir Bhutto, another civilian opposition leader. She has been negotiating with President Musharraf over his presidency and his role as top military man. Mr. Sharif has condemned her for negotiating. More likely, he is annoyed that she isn’t falling in line behind him. A fractured opposition is useful to the regime.

Mr. Sharif, though, is hardly the ideal leader of the opposition. He’s no Nelson Mandela. He was convicted of tax evasion and treason (a rather odd combination of charges) in 2000 and sent into exile for 10 years. He is only slightly preferable to a military dictator. Yet, to a great many Pakistanis, he is preferable. And that means the strife and uncertainty will continue.

© Copyright 2007 by The Kensington Review, Jeff Myhre, PhD, Editor. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written consent. Produced using Fedora Linux.

Home