Exiled PM Sharif can come home: Pak Supreme Court

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Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif

ISLAMABAD, Aug 23 (AFP): Pakistan's Supreme Court ruled Thursday that former prime minister Nawaz Sharif could return home after seven years in exile imposed by his embattled arch foe President Pervez Musharraf.
Sharif's party said he would come back within weeks to stand in upcoming elections and lead the growing opposition to General Musharraf, who ousted the industrialist-turned-politician in October 1999.
Hundreds of Sharif's supporters danced jubilantly and sacrificed two goats outside the court after the verdict was announced, chanting "Go Musharraf, go!" "Musharraf is a dog!" and "Long live Nawaz Sharif".
Sharif was ousted in October 1999 by Musharraf, who had him sentenced to life in prison on hijacking, tax evasion and treason charges. He and his brother Shahbaz went into exile in Saudi Arabia the following year.
"The Sharifs can return to Pakistan unhindered," Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry said in his judgement. "They have an inalienable right to return and remain in the country as citizens of Pakistan."
Chaudhry added: "Their safe return will not be restricted or hampered by the federal governments or provincial governments or any other agencies in any manner."
The decision adds to the woes of military ruler Musharraf, who faces political turmoil at home and mounting pressure from key ally the United States to tackle Al-Qaeda and other Islamic militants.
Sharif's conservative Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz party said a delegation would leave soon for London, where the ex-premier is currently staying, to arrange his return.
"He may return before Ramadan," the Muslim holy month of fasting which starts in September, senior party member Chaudhry Nisar Ali said outside the court.
Both Sharif and another former prime minister, Benazir Bhutto, the leader of the rival Pakistan People's Party, have said they intend to contest forthcoming general elections due by early next year.
But the government warned that Sharif and his brother would face criminal charges if they were to return.
"They can of course come to Pakistan, but when they land the law will take its course," government lawyer Ahmed Raza Kasuri said.
Sharif served as prime minister from 1990 to 1993, and again from 1997 to 1999.
Then-army chief Musharraf ousted him after tensions between Sharif's government and the military. The hijacking charge relates to Sharif's bid to stop Musharraf's plane from landing in Pakistan on the day of the coup.
Musharraf says Sharif agreed to leave Pakistan for a period of 10 years and his lawyers presented the court with a document purportedly outlining the deal, but the ex-premier insists that he was coerced into exile.
The president has said that neither Sharif nor Bhutto will be allowed to return to Pakistan, although Bhutto has held talks with Musharraf about a possible power-sharing deal.
Military ruler Musharraf has been dealt a series of bruising blows by the Supreme Court in recent months amid plunging popular support.
In July the court foiled his attempt to sack chief justice Chaudhry and earlier this month it ordered the release from jail of one of Sharif's top lieutenants, Javed Hashmi.
Musharraf faces further legal challenges against his dual position as army chief and president.