Published on Monday , September 10, 2007 at 09:20 in World section
- Nawaz Sharif boarded plane to Jeddah
- Nawaz Sharif has been brought back to the airport via helicopter and is being deported to Jeddah
- Nawaz taken to Miyanwali Jail in Punjab province
- Nawaz Sharif has surrendered to the police and is being taken to undisclosed location
- All private channels have been taken off air in the country
- PML(N) files petition in Supreme Court seeking Nawaz's production before court
- Nawaz Sharif taken into protective custody
- Nawaz arrested at airport, won't be deported to Jeddah
- Clashes between the police and PML(N) workers outside airport
- Saudi Arabia representatives hold negotiations with Nawaz at airport lounge
- Nawaz refuses to leave airport without media
- Demands withdrawal of security forces from airport
The political drama in Pakistan has begun to unfold with former Pakistan prime minister Nawaz Sharif landing at the Islamabad airport after a seven-year exile.
Nawaz — who had earlier refused to disembark from the plane without his supporters and British lawyers — finally left the aircraft with party officials, after a 90-minute standoff with authorities, only to be arrested almost immediately.
Nawaz Sharif has been brought back to the airport via helicopter and is now being deported to Jeddah.
The Pakistan government had earlier decided against deporting the former prime minister to Jeddah for that may have led to a confrontation between the government and the Supreme Court — something Musharraf is keen to avoid.
The Pakistani government is maintaining that it has simply done its job by arresting Nawaz, who they say was involved in many cases of fraud and cheating. The former prime minister was arrested by the Punjab Police.
Meanwhile, Nawaz has been taken into protective custody. His party, Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz), has filed a petition in Supreme Court seeking Nawaz's production before court.
The Supreme Court has finally jumped into the fray saying that the government must produce Nawaz in court immediately.
Vice-President International Affairs PML(N) Dr Luqman told CNN-IBN: "We were given two possibilities. One was arrest and the other, deportation to Jeddah. We are positive about courts in Pakistan and so we prefer arrest. Let the court decide. All PML(N) leaders are under arrest as of now."
Earlier, an upbeat Nawaz was quoted by Geo TV as saying onboard the flight, "We are going, nothing can stop us. I decided to travel in a PIA flight due to the changed scenario because it was feared that if I had booked the flight of any foreign airline that would have been cancelled or diverted to other destination on one way or the other.''
Before his arrival, authorities had detained about 4,000 Nawaz supporters and several leaders of his PML(N), including the chairman, as well as three leaders of an allied religious alliance.
Nawaz Sharif's son, Hasan Sharif told CNN-IBN that his father has not been in contact with any emissary of the Pakistan government, or any military secretary of General Musharraf.
"This is strange behaviour of the part of Pakistan. Whether he will be allowed out of the aircraft all depends on the government now. We are hoping for the best," he said.
The police had sealed off a five km radius around the airport. Road blocks were erected and prohibitory orders promulgated to prevent PML-N supporters from gathering near the airport.
A contingent of security forces including Rangers and the Elite Force commandos were deputed and armoured vehicles were patrolling the area.
A Civil Aviation Authority spokesman, however, said that the airport would not be closed and all domestic and international flights would continue operating according to schedule on Monday.
