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More than a year after being ousted by the army, Pakistan's former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has begun his 10-year exile. Mr. Sharif, who arrived in Saudi Arabia, has been released by the Pervez Musharraf regime--a move, which has been criticized by many in Pakistan.
A royal Saudi jet flew Sharif and his family members to the western port city of Jeddah on Sunday evening. Mecca Governor Prince Abdel-Majid bin Abdulaziz, received Mr. Sharif at the airport. Before leaving Pakistan, Mr. Sharif had appointed Javed Hashmi as the new acting president of his party--the Pakistan Muslim League.
According to Jassar Essan Iqbal, Member, Pakistan Muslim League, "Nawaz Sharif is a political factor in Pakistan and will remain a political factor. He has gone from captivity to exile, and very soon he should return. The party is still united under his leadership. He has appointed Javed Hashmi as an acting president and as a chairman to look after the fate of the party during his absence. I think we are progressing, inching toward the road to restoration of democracy."
However, back in Pakistan, there has been widespread criticism over the deal. Many believe that the move has damaged the army's anti-corruption drive. Mr. Sharif had been in jail on charges of corruption and hijacking ever since he was ousted in a coup by his army chief Pervez Musharraf last October.
Mr. Sharif was granted presidential pardon on medical grounds. During his exile, the former Prime Minister will be treated at a military hospital. Saudi Arabia is seen as a natural choice for the former Prime Minister. He is reportedly extremely close to the royal family. In fact, they are said to have been instrumental in ensuring that Sharif was spared the death sentence.
From being perhaps Pakistan's most powerful Prime Minister to being exiled to Saudi Arabia, the fall of Nawaz Sharif now seems complete.
On December 10, after the military government exiled him to Saudi Arabia, Nawaz Sharif's political career, at least for a while, seems to have come to a stop. But the day that started Sharif down the course was October 12, 1999. A military coup led by his former Army Chief Pervez Musharraf resulted first in house arrest and then jail. He was charged with treason, hijacking and conspiracy to murder.