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Sharif confirms Pakistan return Sharif names Pakistan return date
(about 2 hours later)
Pakistan's exiled former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif will return home on 10 September to challenge President General Pervez Musharraf, he says.Pakistan's exiled former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif will return home on 10 September to challenge President General Pervez Musharraf, he says.
Mr Sharif, deposed by Gen Musharraf in 1999, was speaking in London a week after Pakistan's top court defied the government, ruling his return legal. Mr Sharif, deposed by Gen Musharraf in 1999, was speaking in London a week after Pakistan's top court defied the government to rule his return legal.
His announcement comes as former PM Benazir Bhutto claims she is nearing a deal to share power with Gen Musharraf.His announcement comes as former PM Benazir Bhutto claims she is nearing a deal to share power with Gen Musharraf.
Correspondents have said Mr Sharif may still face charges if he goes home. Correspondents have said Mr Sharif could still face jail if he goes home.
Mr Sharif said he planned to "start a decisive struggle against dictatorship", adding that Gen Musharraf should step down from the presidency and from his army post.Mr Sharif said he planned to "start a decisive struggle against dictatorship", adding that Gen Musharraf should step down from the presidency and from his army post.
He said it would be "unfortunate" if Ms Bhutto made a deal with Gen Musharraf. 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/6960670.stm">How 1999 coup unfolded class="" href="/1/hi/world/south_asia/6959782.stm">Profile: Nawaz Sharif class="" href="/1/hi/world/south_asia/6653475.stm">Q&A: Political crisis
"I disagree with Ms Bhutto's current policy of shaking hands with a dictator - she has given me her word, and she is going back on it," he said. The former prime minister, who served two terms between 1990 and 1993 and from 1997 to 1999, said it would be "unfortunate" if Ms Bhutto made a deal with Gen Musharraf.
Mr Sharif was sentenced to life in prison for offences including tax evasion and treason before he went into exile following the 1999 coup. "I disagree with Ms Bhutto's current policy of shaking hands with a dictator," he said.
Pakistani authorities have said Mr Sharif promised to stay out of the country and away from politics for 10 years in exchange for his freedom. Referring to an electoral pact he signed with Ms Bhutto last year agreeing to fight Gen Musharraf's rule, he said: "She has given me her word, and she is going back on it."
Gen Musharraf is seeking support for presidential elections that could give him another five-year term.
But he is under pressure to reach a deal with the opposition after several Supreme Court rulings have gone against him.
'Right to return'
Under Pakistani law, prime ministers cannot serve more than two terms - which would disqualify both Ms Bhutto and Mr Sharif.
Ms Bhutto wants this clause removed from constitution, and she says a deal will only be made with Gen Musharraf if he resigns his army role.
The general's spokesman said on Thursday he was considering standing down from his army position, but no decision had yet been made.
Mr Sharif was sentenced to life in prison for offences including tax evasion and treason after the 1999 coup.
Pakistani authorities say Mr Sharif promised to stay out of the country and away from politics for 10 years in exchange for his freedom.
But last week the country's Supreme Court ruled that he and his family had "an inalienable right to return and remain in the country as citizens of Pakistan".