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Beefed Up Security Will Welcome Sharif

Pakistan bans rallies, rounds up activists day before ex-PM's return

By Zach Samalin,  Newser Staff

Posted Sep 9, 2007 12:07 PM CDT

(Newser) – In advance of ousted PM Nawaz Sharif's return tomorrow after a 7-year exile, Pakistan banned political rallies and has arrested thousands of activists, the AP reports. "Nothing can be more pleasing to me than freeing Pakistan from the clutches of military dictatorship," said Sharif, who anticipates being arrested upon arrival in Islamabad, but  still plans to reclaim his seat from President Pervez Musharraf.

"I will be happy that for a small price—my going to jail—Pakistan will get freedom," he said. Meanwhile, authorities are cracking down on Sharif's supporters, with more than 2,000 detained in Punjab, prompting Human Rights Watch to call for their release. Sharif arrives tomorrow with brother Shabhaz Sharif, for whom an arrest warrant was issued this week.

Supporters of a Pakistani religious party chant anti government slogans during a rally in Lahore, Pakistan on Sunday, Sept. 9, 2007. Pakistan stepped up airport security, banned rallies and continued rounding up hundreds of opposition activists, a day before former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's planned return to challenge the military...
Supporters of a Pakistani religious party chant anti government slogans during a rally in Lahore, Pakistan on Sunday, Sept. 9, 2007. Pakistan stepped up airport security, banned rallies and continued...   (Associated Press)
A supporter of Pakistan's ousted Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif makes a victory sign in front Sharifs portrait during a rally in Rawalpindi, Pakistan on Sunday, Sept. 9, 2007. Pakistan stepped up airport security, banned rallies and continued rounding up hundreds of opposition activists, a day before Sharif's planned return to...
A supporter of Pakistan's ousted Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif makes a victory sign in front Sharifs portrait during a rally in Rawalpindi, Pakistan on Sunday, Sept. 9, 2007. Pakistan stepped up airport...   (Associated Press)
Former Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif speaks during a news conference in central London in this file photo taken on Thursday Aug. 30, 2007. Sharif expected return from exile Monday will reintroduce to Pakistan's political bear pit a power broker who champions democracy, leads a secular party but has lined...
Former Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif speaks during a news conference in central London in this file photo taken on Thursday Aug. 30, 2007. Sharif expected return from exile Monday will reintroduce...   (Associated Press)
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