NPR: Sharif Kicked Out of Pakistan Within Hours

Sharif Kicked Out of Pakistan Within Hours

Former Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif waves as he lands at Islamabad's airport Monday.

Richard Beeston/AFP/Getty Images

Well, that was a short trip. I hope former Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had a chance to pick up a few gifts for his family at the airport — because he sure didn't stay long in Pakistan today.

Sharif was deported this morning, just hours after returning to his home country from seven years in exile, intending to campaign against President Gen. Pervez Musharraf. Morning Edition reports that a few hours after he arrived, Sharif was separated from his entourage and whisked off on a plane to Jiddah, Saudi Arabia.

Sharif probably had an idea it would happen. Dawn, an English-language Pakistani daily, was reporting on Sunday that the government had such a plan in place.

And while political leaders all over the world probably dream about being able to stick the opposition on a plane to another country, it's a real gamble by Musharraf. Last month, the country's Supreme Court ruled that Sharif could return to Pakistan and that authorities could not stop him. Musharraf already sparred with the top court earlier this year, when he tried to oust the chief justice, setting off a round of violent clashes.

Dawn also reports that constitutional expert Abid Hasan Minto said Sunday that deporting Sharif would amount to contempt of court.

Just what everyone needs: more unrest in Pakistan.

11:30 AM ET | 09-10-2007 | permalink

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