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Sharif kin actions trigger speculation

By B. Muralidhar Reddy

ISLAMABAD FEB. 1. The family of the deposed Pakistan Prime Minister, Nawaz Sharif, continues to engage the attention of the Pakistani media and the people though it is over two years now since the entire clan went on an exile to Saudi Arabia after a deal with the military Government led by Pervez Musharraf.

A few days ago, there were ripples in political circles after family members of one of the brothers of Mr. Sharif landed in Lahore on a "private visit". Now, the media is agog with reports about the travel of Shahbaz Sharif, another brother of Mr. Sharif and former Chief Minister of Punjab, to the United States.

Everyone is curious to know the reason why Mr. Shahbaz Sharif has flown to America and whether it signalled easing of the political restrictions on the family.

The Musharraf Government has repeatedly asserted that under the exile deal, the Sharif clan is not allowed to dabble in Pakistan politics and not allowed to return to the country for 10 years.

However, this has been contested not only by the family but also the Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) leaders.

Confusion on the subject got confounded in October last year when the former Prime Minister filed his nomination papers for one of the seats to the National Assembly and the Election Commission accepted them. Later, he withdrew the papers in "solidarity" with the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) chairperson, Benazir Bhutto.

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