Search the Internet          Tips

Return of Sharif's family members sparks off speculation

K J M Verma in Islamabad

The sudden return of the wife and two daughters of Shahbaz Sharif, brother of deposed premier Nawaz Sharif, to Pakistan has sparked speculation, with the military regime accusing the family of violating the agreement under which they were exiled to Saudi Arabia.

The three returned two days ago to Lahore and visited their relatives and leaders of Sharif-led Pakistan Muslim League, inviting attention of both the media and government.

PML earlier split into pro and anti-Musharraf government after Sharif was sent on exile under an agreement that they would not return to the country for the next 10 years.

Shahbaz was the chief minister of the Punjab province when Nawaz Sharif was the Pakistani premier.

Sources close to the family have been quoted in the local media as saying that they plan to stay in the country.

Earlier, one of the nephews of Sharif was imprisoned when he returned from Jeddah violating the exile agreement.

The present return of the Shabaz family, timed along with the sensitive situation prevailing in Afghanistan and Pakistan, has caused concern among the officials.

Denying that the return of Nusarat Sharif and her daughters was part of any deal, officials termed it as a breach of the agreement and threatened to proceed against them in accordance with law, the Dawn daily said.

The Sharifs were sent on exile last year after the former prime minister was sentenced to life imprisonment for attempting to prevent the plane of General Pervez Musharraf from landing in Karachi leading to the 1999 military coup.

Tell us what you think of this report