Sharif's brother facing arrest
Former Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's politician brother faced possible arrest today over murder charges dating back to 1998 after both brothers were excluded from forthcoming parliamentary elections.
An anti-terrorism court in Lahore issued contempt notices to two police officers for not arresting Shahbaz Sharif for having allegedly ordered security forces to kill suspected criminals in a shoot-out eight years ago, when he was chief minister of Punjab province, the state-run Associated Press of Pakistan reported today.
The move against Shahbaz Sharif came after election officials yesterday rejected Nawaz Sharif's own candidacy for the January 8 parliamentary elections on the grounds that he had been convicted in two cases stemming from a 1999 military coup in which current President Pervez Musharraf overthrew his government.
Since returning to Pakistan last week after eight years in exile, Mr Sharif has emerged as Mr Musharraf's most vociferous opponent.
He has called Mr Musharraf's presidency illegal and refuses to deal with the newly retired army general.
He has also demanded the reinstatement of Supreme Court judges sacked by Mr Musharraf after it appeared likely that they would rule against his attempt to secure a new presidential term.
In a show of unity yesterday, Nawaz Sharif and Benazir Bhutto, another former prime minister who recently returned from exile, agreed that the upcoming parliamentary elections would not be free and fair under the state of emergency that Mr Musharraf proclaimed a month ago.
"We reserve the right to boycott the elections at a later stage," Ms Bhutto said at a news conference with Mr Sharif after talks at her residence in the capital - the first meeting between the two since their recent returns. "The ball will be in the court of the regime."
Mr Sharif said a committee consisting of four members from each of their parties would draw up demands within the next few days. He said they would set a deadline for authorities to comply, but gave no indication of how much time they would allow.
"These elections will be massively rigged because Mr Musharraf's survival lies in rigging it," Mr Sharif predicted.
Ms Bhutto said she was "very sad" that election officials in Mr Sharif's home city of Lahore rejected his nomination papers. If upheld, the decision could dash his hopes of winning a third term as prime minister.
Shahbaz Sharif's candidacy also was rejected on Saturday over the murder charges and an allegedly defaulted bank loan.
Ms Bhutto also said authorities must release from house arrest the Supreme Court judges who were ousted just as they were apparently poised to rule against Mr Musharraf's continued presidency.
During the past month, Mr Musharraf has filled the Supreme Court with loyalists and jailed hundreds of human rights workers, civic activists and lawyers. Most have been released. He has promised to lift the emergency on December 16.
Mr Musharraf retired as army chief and took the oath as a civilian president last week. At his inauguration, he said there would be a level playing field in the elections for both Mr Sharif and Ms Bhutto.
Meanwhile, a female suicide bomber blew herself up today in the north-western city of Peshawar, without causing any other casualties or damage. Police said they did not know what her intended target was.
Although there has been a rash of suicide bombings in Pakistan in recent months, this is the first known case in of a woman carrying out a such an attack.
Meanwhile, in Bajur, a tribal region bordering Afghanistan, suspected Islamic militants abducted six police officers and blew up a roadside security post in north-western Pakistan, a military statement said.
Bajur is a rugged region where security officials say al-Qaida and Taliban-linked militants operate. Militants have been blamed for attacks on security forces in the area.
