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| Version 7 | Version 8 |
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| Exiled Pakistani PM 'to go home' | Exiled Pakistani PM 'to go home' |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Exiled former Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has pledged to go home soon and contest elections, in a bid to oust President Pervez Musharraf. | Exiled former Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has pledged to go home soon and contest elections, in a bid to oust President Pervez Musharraf. |
| He was speaking in London soon after Pakistan's top court ruled against the government and said he could return. | He was speaking in London soon after Pakistan's top court ruled against the government and said he could return. |
| Mr Sharif, who left Pakistan after he was deposed by Gen Musharraf in a 1999 military coup, said it was "the beginning of the end" for his rival. | Mr Sharif, who left Pakistan after he was deposed by Gen Musharraf in a 1999 military coup, said it was "the beginning of the end" for his rival. |
| Correspondents say Mr Sharif could still face charges if he goes home. | Correspondents say Mr Sharif could still face charges if he goes home. |
| Jubilant supporters of the exiled politician cheered Thursday's ruling in Islamabad and called on Gen Musharraf to stand down. | Jubilant supporters of the exiled politician cheered Thursday's ruling in Islamabad and called on Gen Musharraf to stand down. |
| 'Dictatorship has lost' | 'Dictatorship has lost' |
| Mr Sharif told a London news conference: "This is a victory for democratic struggle. Dictatorship has lost, democracy has won and the constitution of Pakistan has won. | Mr Sharif told a London news conference: "This is a victory for democratic struggle. Dictatorship has lost, democracy has won and the constitution of Pakistan has won. |
| "It is the beginning of the end of Musharraf." | "It is the beginning of the end of Musharraf." |
| He added: "I will face anything that he does against me. I'm not scared of that." | He added: "I will face anything that he does against me. I'm not scared of that." |
| The Sharifs have an inalienable right to return and remain in the country as citizens of Pakistan Iftikhar Mohammad ChaudhryChief Justice Profile: Nawaz Sharif Have Your Say | The Sharifs have an inalienable right to return and remain in the country as citizens of Pakistan Iftikhar Mohammad ChaudhryChief Justice Profile: Nawaz Sharif Have Your Say |
| Mr Sharif was sentenced to life in prison for tax evasion and treason among other offences and went into exile after the coup eight years ago. | Mr Sharif was sentenced to life in prison for tax evasion and treason among other offences and went into exile after the coup eight years ago. |
| The authorities said Mr Sharif had promised to stay out of Pakistan and away from politics for 10 years in exchange for his freedom and exile. | The authorities said Mr Sharif had promised to stay out of Pakistan and away from politics for 10 years in exchange for his freedom and exile. |
| But Mr Sharif's lawyers denied he did a deal with the Pakistan government. | But Mr Sharif's lawyers denied he did a deal with the Pakistan government. |
| And Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry said in his judgement on Thursday: "The Sharifs can return to Pakistan unhindered. | And Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry said in his judgement on Thursday: "The Sharifs can return to Pakistan unhindered. |
| "They have an inalienable right to return and remain in the country as citizens of Pakistan." | "They have an inalienable right to return and remain in the country as citizens of Pakistan." |
| Mr Sharif's brother, Shahbaz, another politician, was also exiled in 2000. | Mr Sharif's brother, Shahbaz, another politician, was also exiled in 2000. |
| Pakistani Attorney General Malik Mohammed Qayyum said the government accepted the ruling but suggested the Sharifs could face legal action on Pakistani soil. | Pakistani Attorney General Malik Mohammed Qayyum said the government accepted the ruling but suggested the Sharifs could face legal action on Pakistani soil. |
| "Let them come and the law will take its own course," he said. | "Let them come and the law will take its own course," he said. |
| MUSHARRAF UNDER PRESSURE 9 March: Musharraf suspends chief justice for "abuse of power". Lawyers protest April: Protests grow, amid clashes with police12 May: 34 people die as rival political groups clash in Karachi11 July: 102 people die when army storms radical Red Mosque in IslamabadJuly-Aug: Sharp rise in suicide attacks by pro-Taleban militants 20 July: Supreme Court reinstates chief justice9 Aug: Musharraf rejects emergency rule23 Aug: Supreme Court says exiled ex-PM Nawaz Sharif can return class="" href="/1/hi/world/south_asia/6653475.stm">Q&A: Political crisis | |
| Mr Sharif leads the biggest party in a six-party religious opposition alliance committed to removing Gen Musharraf from power. | Mr Sharif leads the biggest party in a six-party religious opposition alliance committed to removing Gen Musharraf from power. |
| Mr Sharif, who still officially heads his faction of the conservative Pakistan Muslim League party from exile, served as prime minister twice. | Mr Sharif, who still officially heads his faction of the conservative Pakistan Muslim League party from exile, served as prime minister twice. |
| The verdict comes at a difficult time for Gen Musharraf, as he is expected to seek re-election later this year. | The verdict comes at a difficult time for Gen Musharraf, as he is expected to seek re-election later this year. |
| There has been speculation in the Pakistan media that he might seek a power-sharing deal with another former prime minister, Benazir Bhutto. | There has been speculation in the Pakistan media that he might seek a power-sharing deal with another former prime minister, Benazir Bhutto. |
| Ms Bhutto, who leads the Pakistan People's Party (PPP), left Pakistan in 1999 amid allegations of corruption. | Ms Bhutto, who leads the Pakistan People's Party (PPP), left Pakistan in 1999 amid allegations of corruption. |
| The PPP, which is not part of Mr Sharif's opposition alliance, welcomed Thursday's ruling. | The PPP, which is not part of Mr Sharif's opposition alliance, welcomed Thursday's ruling. |
| Senior PPP leader Raza Rabbani told the BBC: "When Mr Sharif comes back, his party will receive a boost, as will the PPP when Ms Bhutto returns. | Senior PPP leader Raza Rabbani told the BBC: "When Mr Sharif comes back, his party will receive a boost, as will the PPP when Ms Bhutto returns. |
| "When they are both back, democracy will be strengthened and dictatorship will be at end." | "When they are both back, democracy will be strengthened and dictatorship will be at end." |