Sunday, May 22, 2011

Nawaz feared arrest on deportation: cables

Nawaz Sharif feared that he might be taken under arrest after deportation from Pakistan in 2007; a private TV channel reported quoting cables released by WikiLeaks.

According to leaked cables, former Lebanon Prime Minister Saad Al-Hariri asked Nawaz Sharif not to return to Pakistan but Nawaz did otherwise.

The secret US cable, which revealed this information, was sent from US consulate in Jeddah on September 12, 2007.

The discussion between the head of Saudi secret agency Prince Muqrin and US’s then ambassador disclosed this information in a secret cable released by WikiLeaks.

According to cable, Saudi Prince Muqrin told US ambassador that Nawaz had feared that he might be arrested on way to Saudi Arabia after his deportation from Pakistan.

Upon this he was given 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.

The cable also released details of the secret agreement that allowed Sharif to go into exile in Saudi Arabia for 10 years after he was convicted on charges, like hijacking, following the military coup against him by former President Pervez Musharraf.

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