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Nawaz Sharif Says He'll Run for Parliament

Ex-PM plots return to political power after election victory

By Jason Farago,  Newser Staff

Posted Feb 27, 2008 9:03 AM CST
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(Newser) – Nawaz Sharif will stand in a special election for a vacant seat in Pakistan's parliament, he said yesterday, opening the way for his return to political power. The two-time prime minister, whose Muslim League is set to form a coalition government with Benazir Bhutto's Pakistan People's Party after last week's election victory, says he will push parliament to annul the constitutional amendments made by Pervez Musharraf during the state of emergency, writes the Telegraph.

Sharif, whom Musharraf deposed in his 1999 bloodless coup, was banned from running for a seat in parliament due to criminal convictions that he says are baseless. But with the political landscape transformed, Sharif sees an opening. Although Bhutto loyalist Makhdoom Amin Fahim is set to become prime minister, if the fragile coalition collapses Sharif could then push for a third term as head of the government.

Pakistan Peoples Party's co-chairman and husband of slain opposition leader Benazir Bhutto, Asif Ali Zardari, left, shakes hands with Pakistan's Muslim League-N party chief Nawaz Sharif, center, at a press conference after their meeting in Islamabad, Pakistan on Thursday, Feb. 21, 2008. Sharif will run for a seat in parliament,...
Pakistan Peoples Party's co-chairman and husband of slain opposition leader Benazir Bhutto, Asif Ali Zardari, left, shakes hands with Pakistan's Muslim League-N party chief Nawaz Sharif, center, at a...   (Associated Press)
Pakistan's former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, right arrives with his brother Shahbaz Sharif to address a news conference in Lahore, Pakistan, Feb. 26, 2008. Sharif will run for a seat in parliament, his party announced.
Pakistan's former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, right arrives with his brother Shahbaz Sharif to address a news conference in Lahore, Pakistan, Feb. 26, 2008. Sharif will run for a seat in parliament,...   (Associated Press)
Pakistan's former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif addresses a news conference on Monday, Feb. 25, 2008 in Islamabad, Pakistan. Sharif will run for a seat in parliament, his party announced.
Pakistan's former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif addresses a news conference on Monday, Feb. 25, 2008 in Islamabad, Pakistan. Sharif will run for a seat in parliament, his party announced.   (Associated Press)
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Sharif meets with US ambassador to discuss political future
Hindu (India)

Sharif to Musharraf: time to say 'goodbye'
Daily Times (Pakistan)

 
Pakistan • Pervez Musharraf • Benazir Bhutto • Nawaz Sharif • Muslim League • Pakistan People's Party • prime minister • Pakistan elections • Makhdoom Amin Fahim • Pakistan coalition talks

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