ID :
183505
Sat, 05/21/2011 - 14:25
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Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/183505
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Sharif feared arrest after deportation in 2007: WikiLeaks
Islamabad, May 21 (PTI) Former premier Nawaz Sharif
feared "he might be arrested" on his return to Saudi Arabia
after he was deported from Pakistan during an abortive attempt
to return to the country from self-exile on September 10,
2007, according to a secret US diplomatic cable released by
WikiLeaks.
After his return to Saudi Arabia, Sharif "thought that
he might be arrested", but Prince Muqrin, the head of Saudi
Arabian intelligence, gave him two options – "he could either
stay at a palace that had been prepared for him, or at his
home".
Sharif "opted to go to his home", according to details
of the PML-N chief's return to exile in Saudi Arabia shared by
Muqrin with then US Ambassador Ford M Fraker.
The details are documented in a secret cable from
the US consulate in Jeddah sent on September 12, 2007.
The cable also gives details of the secret agreement
that allowed Sharif to go into exile in Saudi Arabia for 10
years after he convicted on charges like hijacking following
the military coup against him by former President Pervez
Musharraf.
"During Ambassdor Fraker's meeting with Prince
Muqrin, the Prince first summarised the ten-year agreement,
brokered by Rafik Hariri, under which Sharif would live in
Saudi Arabia and refrain from participating in Pakistani
politics. He added that there was a verbal agreement that
after five years, they would hold negotiations to consider
reducing that ten year period," the cable said.
Muqrin went on to describe "how Saad Al-Hariri
warned Sharif not to return to Pakistan, but how Sharif
disregarded the warning and went anyway".
After Sharif's forced return from Pakistan to Jeddah,
Muqrin received the former premier at the airport.
Muqrin told Sharif that there would be "some
restrictions" on his activities "for a short while, at least
through the November elections, to reduce the likelihood of
inciting rioting among his supporters in Pakistan".
The Saudi prince was referring to the general
election scheduled for November 2007 that was eventually put
off till early 2008.
feared "he might be arrested" on his return to Saudi Arabia
after he was deported from Pakistan during an abortive attempt
to return to the country from self-exile on September 10,
2007, according to a secret US diplomatic cable released by
WikiLeaks.
After his return to Saudi Arabia, Sharif "thought that
he might be arrested", but Prince Muqrin, the head of Saudi
Arabian intelligence, gave him two options – "he could either
stay at a palace that had been prepared for him, or at his
home".
Sharif "opted to go to his home", according to details
of the PML-N chief's return to exile in Saudi Arabia shared by
Muqrin with then US Ambassador Ford M Fraker.
The details are documented in a secret cable from
the US consulate in Jeddah sent on September 12, 2007.
The cable also gives details of the secret agreement
that allowed Sharif to go into exile in Saudi Arabia for 10
years after he convicted on charges like hijacking following
the military coup against him by former President Pervez
Musharraf.
"During Ambassdor Fraker's meeting with Prince
Muqrin, the Prince first summarised the ten-year agreement,
brokered by Rafik Hariri, under which Sharif would live in
Saudi Arabia and refrain from participating in Pakistani
politics. He added that there was a verbal agreement that
after five years, they would hold negotiations to consider
reducing that ten year period," the cable said.
Muqrin went on to describe "how Saad Al-Hariri
warned Sharif not to return to Pakistan, but how Sharif
disregarded the warning and went anyway".
After Sharif's forced return from Pakistan to Jeddah,
Muqrin received the former premier at the airport.
Muqrin told Sharif that there would be "some
restrictions" on his activities "for a short while, at least
through the November elections, to reduce the likelihood of
inciting rioting among his supporters in Pakistan".
The Saudi prince was referring to the general
election scheduled for November 2007 that was eventually put
off till early 2008.
