Nawaz Sharif has returned to Pakistan. As you may recall, he was rushed back into exile weeks ago when he attempted to return. That was before Musharraf imposed his state of emergency.

Now Sharif is back.

Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif returned to Pakistan late Sunday, greeted by crowds of frenzied supporters after seven years in exile. His arrival injects a new element of complexity into the country's chaotic political scene and presents a powerful challenge to the military president who deposed him.

Sharif had attempted to return in September but was forced to leave the country without stepping off his plane. This time, his homecoming received the reluctant acquiescence of President Pervez Musharraf.

Police sealed off the airport in Lahore, Sharif's political stronghold, early Sunday following rumors that he would be arrested or whisked away to his suburban home under guard. But hundreds of supporters surged through the police lines and barricades, chanting his name nonstop as they waited for his plane from Saudi Arabia to land.

Sharif finally emerged about 7:30 p.m. and attempted to speak, but his words were inaudible in the roar of cheers. He was then carried aloft by the crowd to a black bulletproof Mercedes-Benz. His motorcade inched through the city all evening, along streets lined with tens of thousands of supporters.

News agencies reported that Sharif called on Musharraf to lift the emergency rule he declared Nov. 3 and to restore the suspended constitution. Sharif said that the emergency conditions were "not conducive to free and fair elections" and that he had "come back to save my country."

There is already talk of an electoral coalition between Sharif and Benazir Bhutto. What this means in regards to her previous discussions with Musharraf is an interesting question. Could it be that Musharraf's two biggest rivals will unite with him to help bring order to the country? Or will they instead unite against him -- and will such a move bring stability to Pakistan?

Given Sharif's long-standing opposition to Musharraf and his adamant rejection of any deals with the man who overthrew his government eight years ago, I suspect we will see the formation of a Sharif-Bhutto coalition to oppose Musharraf. However, I doubt that they will have either the strength or the will to remove the General from power in the short term, meaning that they will have to work out some sort of power-sharing arrangement following the elections in January.

Posted by: Greg at 11:34 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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