Musharraf denies role in Sharif's deportation

ISLAMABAD: With the Pakistan Supreme Court set to take up the twin petition against the deportation of Nawaz Sharif, President Pervez Musharraf has said everything was done by the government according to the law, but claimed he had no role in sending the deposed Premier to Saudi Arabia.

After Sharif, the PML-N leader, was sent to Jeddha within hours of his arrival here yesterday following a seven-year exile, Musharraf said the former Premier was morally bound to stay out of the country by the virtue of his deal with Riyadh before going on exile in 2000, 'DawnNews' TV reported.

Defending the government's decision to deport Sharif, Musharraf said at a meeting yesterday that everything was done according to the law and all legal formalities were fulfilled, the report said.

Referring to the agitation by Sharif's supporters, he said no body would be allowed to take law into their hands and stressed that the government would do all it could to maintain law and order in the country.

Apparently considering the legal implications arising out of the contempt petitions filed by Sharif's family in the Supreme Court, which had allowed the deposed Premier to return home in a landmark verdict last month, Musharraf's office, claimed that the President had no role in the deportation.

The President played no role in Sharif's deportation, Musharraf's spokesman Maj-Gen (Retd) Rashid Qureshi said.

"Put this question to the government. The Presidency has nothing to do with it," he was quoted by 'The News' daily as saying. Qureshi was reluctant to speak more on the issue.

Another senior official, who deals with the media, was annoyed by queries about the Presidency's involvement.

When asked who decided to deport Sharif, the unnamed official at the Presidency said "Ask the government," the daily reported.

Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, however, claimed the government did not force Sharif to return to Saudi Arabia, and it was his own choice.

"We did not force him to return. I have been told that he was given two options - either to go to prison or proceed to Saudi Arabia," Aziz said in an interview to a TV channel.

He also mentioned the Sharif family's "agreement" with Saudi Arabia and said the promises made by them should have been fulfilled.

Aziz said there was an agreement between Sharifs and King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz of Saudi Arabia, under which they had gone into exile for ten years.

When asked about the details of Sharif's return to Saudi Arabia, the Pakistan Prime Minister said legal facts and details of the issue would be uncovered.

To a question whether the return of Sharif could be regarded as a contempt of court, Aziz said as the matter is subjudice, "let's the court decide."  He, however, added that the government has lot of respect for the judiciary, which is one of the important pillars of the state.

Asked whether Sharif would be allowed to take part in the next general elections, he said such decisions are taken by the Election Commission.

About talks with former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, he said, "it was part of a national political reconciliation" and the government was in contact with all political parties to achieve this objective.

To another question, Aziz rejected the notion that talks with Bhutto's PPP had any negative impact on the ruling PML-Q and said the parleys have not yet reached a final stage.

Asked if Bhutto could also face legal cases on her arrival, Aziz said "no body is above the law and the law will take its course."

Replying to a question about Musharraf continuing as the Chief of Army, Aziz said the President has stated on various occasions that he would follow the country's Constitution on the issue.

PML-Q President Shujaat Hussain accused Sharif of "cheating" the nation by saying that he did not strike any deal with a foreign country for his exile.

"Sharif backed out from his pledges and ignored the moral values that proved that he has no respect for truth. He should have honoured the agreement signed by him before his exile to Saudi Arabia," he said in a statement here.

Hussain said Sharif was morally bound to stay in exile for ten years as he had made this pledge to Saudi Arabia, "our close and brotherly country."

Sharif was given choice of either going to jail or exile, he said, adding the Saudi government was also pressing him to honour the agreement.

"Shahbaz Sharif timely perceived the situation and decided to stay in London because it was in their favour to remain abroad for a stipulated period committed by both of them," he said.

"How can people trust such a person who had been consistently arguing that he did not sign any agreement. But Sharif himself admitted the fact in his news conference," Hussain said, referring to deposed Premier's statement that he was verbally assured by intermediaries of the deal that his exile would be for five years only and not a decade as claimed by the government.

The PML-Q chief said that Sharif had claimed that five lakh people would welcome him but they did not show any interest in his call.