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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Sharif to file nomination papers | Sharif to file nomination papers |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Pakistan's former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is due to file nomination papers for the country's general elections, but insists he may boycott the poll. | Pakistan's former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is due to file nomination papers for the country's general elections, but insists he may boycott the poll. |
| Mr Sharif says he will not stand for election unless President Pervez Musharraf lifts the state of emergency he imposed on Pakistan three weeks ago. | Mr Sharif says he will not stand for election unless President Pervez Musharraf lifts the state of emergency he imposed on Pakistan three weeks ago. |
| Mr Sharif, who was toppled by Gen Musharraf in 1999, returned to Pakistan on Sunday after seven years in exile. | Mr Sharif, who was toppled by Gen Musharraf in 1999, returned to Pakistan on Sunday after seven years in exile. |
| There were jubilant scenes as cheering supporters met him at Lahore airport. | There were jubilant scenes as cheering supporters met him at Lahore airport. |
| Aides of Mr Sharif have said he will hand in his nomination papers in Lahore. | Aides of Mr Sharif have said he will hand in his nomination papers in Lahore. |
| Nominations for the general election, scheduled to take place on 8 January, are due to close on Monday. | Nominations for the general election, scheduled to take place on 8 January, are due to close on Monday. |
| When the constitution, fundamental rights are suspended, when people live difficult lives, when judges who make decisions according to the constitution are ousted, will elections in such a situation not be a fraud? Nawaz Sharif class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?forumID=3860&edition=1&ttl=20071126083830">Send us your comments | |
| Benazir Bhutto, another former prime minister who recently returned from exile, filed a nomination paper on Sunday for one of the seats reserved for women. | Benazir Bhutto, another former prime minister who recently returned from exile, filed a nomination paper on Sunday for one of the seats reserved for women. |
| She is expected to file papers for two regular seats on Monday. However, she also has left open the possibility of a boycott. | She is expected to file papers for two regular seats on Monday. However, she also has left open the possibility of a boycott. |
| Mr Sharif's return to Pakistan on Sunday was his second attempt in the past three months to end his exile. The last time, in September, he was deported within hours of his arrival. | Mr Sharif's return to Pakistan on Sunday was his second attempt in the past three months to end his exile. The last time, in September, he was deported within hours of his arrival. |
| Move against military | Move against military |
| He told cheering crowds that his return was "not the result of any deal" with Mr Musharraf, referring to reports that he had come home under an arrangement with the military ruler. | He told cheering crowds that his return was "not the result of any deal" with Mr Musharraf, referring to reports that he had come home under an arrangement with the military ruler. |
| Sharif welcomed home Pakistan relents over Sharif "My deal is with you, the people of Pakistan," he said. | Sharif welcomed home Pakistan relents over Sharif "My deal is with you, the people of Pakistan," he said. |
| Mr Sharif also said that emergency conditions imposed by General Musharraf on 3 November were "not conducive" to free and fair elections. | Mr Sharif also said that emergency conditions imposed by General Musharraf on 3 November were "not conducive" to free and fair elections. |
| Earlier, the former prime minister told the BBC by mobile telephone from his plane that it was unlikely that he would be able to work with Gen Musharraf, as his ultimate objective was to rid Pakistan of military rule. | Earlier, the former prime minister told the BBC by mobile telephone from his plane that it was unlikely that he would be able to work with Gen Musharraf, as his ultimate objective was to rid Pakistan of military rule. |
| "I am here to play my role and also make my own efforts to rid the country of dictatorship," Mr Sharif said. | "I am here to play my role and also make my own efforts to rid the country of dictatorship," Mr Sharif said. |
| Celebrations | Celebrations |
| He said boycotting the election remained an option if emergency rule was not lifted. | He said boycotting the election remained an option if emergency rule was not lifted. |
| "When the constitution, fundamental rights are suspended, when people live difficult lives, when judges who make decisions according to the constitution are ousted, will elections in such a situation not be a fraud?" he said, quoted by the Associated Press news agency. | "When the constitution, fundamental rights are suspended, when people live difficult lives, when judges who make decisions according to the constitution are ousted, will elections in such a situation not be a fraud?" he said, quoted by the Associated Press news agency. |
| Gen Musharraf ousted Mr Sharif from power in 1999"Should not such elections be boycotted?" | Gen Musharraf ousted Mr Sharif from power in 1999"Should not such elections be boycotted?" |
| "Everybody can submit his nomination papers but the final decision will be taken by the APDM (All Parties Democratic Movement)," Mr Sharif told reporters at Lahore airport. | "Everybody can submit his nomination papers but the final decision will be taken by the APDM (All Parties Democratic Movement)," Mr Sharif told reporters at Lahore airport. |
| As Mr Sharif arrived at the airport, celebrating supporters broke through police lines, surrounding Mr Sharif and then lifting him onto their shoulders. | As Mr Sharif arrived at the airport, celebrating supporters broke through police lines, surrounding Mr Sharif and then lifting him onto their shoulders. |
| Thousands of people also lined the road from the airport to the city to show their approval. | Thousands of people also lined the road from the airport to the city to show their approval. |
| Security was tightened in Lahore ahead of Mr Sharif's return. | Security was tightened in Lahore ahead of Mr Sharif's return. |
| Two bombings killed more than 130 people at a homecoming parade in Karachi for Ms Bhutto last month. | Two bombings killed more than 130 people at a homecoming parade in Karachi for Ms Bhutto last month. |
| Ahead of his return, officials from Mr Sharif's PML-N party and police said PML-N supporters had been arrested across Punjab province, although it was not clear how many. | Ahead of his return, officials from Mr Sharif's PML-N party and police said PML-N supporters had been arrested across Punjab province, although it was not clear how many. |