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| Exiled Pakistani PM 'to go home' | Exiled Pakistani PM 'to go home' |
| (10 minutes 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. |
| 'Not scared' | 'Not scared' |
| Mr Sharif told the BBC: "Dictatorship and democracy don't go together. One will have to go. | Mr Sharif told the BBC: "Dictatorship and democracy don't go together. One will have to go. |
| "It is dictatorship which will have to go. The sooner Musharraf understands this, the better it is for him and the country." | "It is dictatorship which will have to go. The sooner Musharraf understands this, the better it is for him and the country." |
| He said he was not afraid of facing charges upon his return to Pakistan. | He said he was not afraid of facing charges upon his return to Pakistan. |
| "I'm not scared," he said. "If Musharraf wants to fabricate cases against me, let him do that. I'll face them." | "I'm not scared," he said. "If Musharraf wants to fabricate cases against me, let him do that. I'll face them." |
| The Sharifs have an inalienable right to return and remain in the country as citizens of Pakistan Iftikhar Mohammad ChaudhryChief Justice href="/1/hi/world/south_asia/6960670.stm">How 1999 coup unfolded class="" href="/1/hi/world/south_asia/6959782.stm">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 following 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 following 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 Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry said in his judgement on Thursday: "(The Sharifs) have an inalienable right to return and remain in the country as citizens of Pakistan." | But Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry said in his judgement on Thursday: "(The Sharifs) 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. |
| The Pakistani government said it accepted the ruling but hinted the Sharifs might face legal action on home soil. | The Pakistani government said it accepted the ruling but hinted the Sharifs might face legal action on home soil. |
| Attorney General Malik Mohammed Qayyum said: "Let them come and the law will take its own course." | Attorney General Malik Mohammed Qayyum said: "Let them come and the law will take its own course." |
| 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 Q&A: Political crisis | 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 Q&A: Political crisis |
| Mr Sharif, who still officially heads his faction of the conservative Pakistan Muslim League party from exile, was prime minister twice. | Mr Sharif, who still officially heads his faction of the conservative Pakistan Muslim League party from exile, was prime minister twice. |
| He leads the main part of a six-party religious opposition alliance which is committed to removing Gen Musharraf from power. | He leads the main part of a six-party religious opposition alliance which is committed to removing Gen Musharraf from power. |
| Thursday's verdict came at a difficult time for Gen Musharraf, as he is expected to seek re-election later this year. | Thursday's verdict came at a difficult time for Gen Musharraf, as he is expected to seek re-election later this year. |
| There has been speculation in Pakistan that he might seek a power-sharing deal with another former prime minister, Benazir Bhutto. | There has been speculation in Pakistan 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 the country in 1999 amid allegations of corruption. | Ms Bhutto, who leads the Pakistan People's Party (PPP), left the country in 1999 amid allegations of corruption. |
| Her party, which is not part of Mr Sharif's opposition alliance, welcomed Thursday's ruling. | Her party, which is not part of Mr Sharif's opposition alliance, welcomed Thursday's ruling. |
| Senior PPP leader Raza Rabbani told the BBC: "When (Ms Bhutto and Mr Sharif) are both back, democracy will be strengthened and dictatorship will be at end." | Senior PPP leader Raza Rabbani told the BBC: "When (Ms Bhutto and Mr Sharif) are both back, democracy will be strengthened and dictatorship will be at end." |