PAKISTAN: Thousands turn out for Sharif rally in Lahore

Thousands of Nawaz Sharif's supporters attend a rally in Lahore just hours after the former Pakistan prime minister returns from exile. Former Pakistani prime minister Nawaz Sharif returned from exile on Sunday (November 25) to confront his arch-rival President Pervez Musharraf who has imposed emergency rule on the country. Sharif, who was overthrown by General Musharraf in a bloodless coup eight years ago, said he was determined to rid the country of dictatorship. Former parliamentarian of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan said with the arrival of Nawaz Sharif "the political vacuum will be filled". Thousands of people lined the road from the airport, cheering and beating drums to welcome Sharif, who arrived with his wife Kulsoom and politician brother Shahbaz Sharif, a fellow exile, on a jet provided by the Saudi monarch. Sharif waved as he addressed a throng of well-wishers from atop a car outside the building, while his brother was carried on peoples' shoulders to a waiting vehicle. Thousands of Sharif's supporters turned out for a rally for the former prime minister. Many waved flags and held posters in supporter of Sharif. "I will never strike any deal with a dictator. However, my deal will be with you (people). When the supreme court is imprisoned, when Musharraf is simultaneously president and chief of army staff, when there is martial law in Pakistan, when there is emergency Pakistan, and the newly appointed judges of the supreme court are not loyal to the country and you," Sharif, who spoke from the top of a truck, told the crowd. U.S. ally Musharraf imposed emergency rule on November 3 to safeguard his presidency, but, under pressure from Saudi's King Abdullah, he reluctantly acquiesced to Sharif's return. Sharif will lead his party in a January 8 general election, if he decides against boycotting a poll that most people doubt will be either free or fair. Western governments fear that stifling democracy could benefit Islamist militants threatening nuclear-armed Pakistan. This was Sharif's second attempt at returning from exile after a first in September ended with his deportation.

ITN Source | November 26, 2007

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