Pakistan govt releases Sharif exile documents


Wed Aug 22, 2007

ISLAMABAD (AFP) - Former Pakistan prime minister Nawaz Sharif and his family agreed to conditions for their exile seven years ago, according to a document released by the government Wednesday.

The document was submitted to the Supreme Court where Sharif and his younger brother Shahbaz are appealing the former premier's exile to Saudi Arabia so that he can return to Pakistan.

The document, a copy of which was made available to AFP, contains a written agreement from Nawaz Sharif that he and his family would stay out of Pakistan for 10 years, provided that he be allowed to travel.

"I agree to stay out of Pakistan for 10 years, during which time my residence will be the country that I approved, but I will be able to travel on the condition I will come back to my residence," it said.

Sharif served as prime minister from 1990 to 1993, and again from 1997 to 1999.

The industrialist-turned-politician was toppled in a bloodless coup by President Pervez Musharraf who then sentenced him to life in prison on tax evasion and treason charges.

Attorney General Malik Muhammad Qayyum said the government has sought the dismissal of the appeal on the ground that Sharif was not forced to leave the country.

"He himself decided to leave Pakistan under the exile agreement," he said.

The document, titled "Confidentiality and Hold Harmless Agreement," was signed by the Sharif brothers in December 2000, Qayyum said.

"This was an undertaking reached between Pakistan's government and Nawaz Sharif," Qayyum told reporters in the court.

The entire process was facilitated by a "gentleman" and the government of a very friendly country, Qayyum said, in an apparent reference to Saudi Arabia.

Sharif in his undertaking approved the "gentleman's" assistance to negotiate on his behalf for his release from jail in Pakistan, the document said.

"I further acknowledge that I am thoroughly satisfied with the course and results of the negotiations on my behalf; that I have been kept fully advised of the negotiations, that I have been in full agreement with each step in the negotiations," it said.

The government's lawyer requested Wednesday a three-week adjournment to procure the original document. The court had been scheduled to resume Thursday.

Sharif and another former premier, Benazir Bhutto -- who is living in self-imposed exile due to corruption charges -- have both said they would return to Pakistan for elections due by early next year.


http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070822/wl_sthasia_afp/pakistanpoliticscourt_070822165959

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