Jamaat to campaign for Musharraf exit

By B. Muralidhar Reddy

ISLAMABAD, DEC. 14. The military Government in Pakistan is worried over the adverse fall-out of the deal on the exile of the former Prime Minister, Mr. Nawaz Sharif, along with his entire family to Saudi Arabia.

The Government will come under increasing pressure in the coming days and this was evident from the decision of Jamaat- e-Islami to launch a movement seeking the resignation of the Chief Executive, Gen. Pervez Musharraf, for the deal.

The exile figured on Wednesday at a two-hour discussion at the Cabinet meeting presided over by Gen. Musharraf. Many suggestions were made to counter the adverse impact on account of the episode. Among ideas being considered are the release of the correspondence between the former Prime Minister and the Government at various levels on the basis of which he was allowed to go on exile and a special address to the nation by Gen. Musharraf.

Probably, the Government would opt for both as it had simply not expected such adverse reaction from all over the country. The military Government managers believe that making public the mercy petition of Mr. Nawaz Sharif would help in taking the sting out of the criticism.

Pakistan papers, quoting sources in the Government, have claimed that there is an apology and a request for pardon by the former Prime Minister. Mr. Nawaz Sharif and his brother and former Chief Minister of Punjab, Mr. Shahbaz Sharif, reportedly have signed the second request.

In his apology, Mr. Nawaz Sharif is believed to have narrated the nature of cases in which he was sentenced to imprisonment and penalties and sought mercy on grounds of falling health.

The Interior Minister, Lt. Gen. (retd.) Moinuddin Haider, contradicted reports in a section of the press that Mr. Shahbaz Sharif had not given his consent for the exile and wanted to return to active politics.

The Minister told correspondents here that no member of Mr. Nawaz Sharif's family would be allowed to enter politics. He said Mr. Shahbaz Sharif would not return to Pakistan and maintained no family member, except Mr. Nawaz Sharif's parents, would return home.

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Section  : International
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