Nawaz Sharif (R), former Prime Minister and leader of Pakistan Muslim League, gestures to supporters as his daughter Maryam Nawaz looks on during party's workers convention in Islamabad, Pakistan.
Over 100 supporters of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif were arrested in northeastern city of Lahore on late Wednesday, ahead of his return from London later this week, local media reported.
Sharif and his daughter Maryam Nawaz, who were handed jail terms in a corruption case earlier this month, are all set to return to their country on Friday.
Several elected members of local city councils held by the Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) (PML-N) were also picked up from their houses during overnight operations against Sharif’s party to halt the gathering to welcome the Sharifs from London, Geo News, a local broadcaster, reported on Thursday.
Pakistani President Mamnoon Hussain hailed the “strong” bilateral relations with Turkey, saying they will not be affected by any changes in the political system.In a special interview with Anadolu Agency, Hussain said: “The relations between Turkey and Pakistan […] cannot be described in words. It is a very special type of relationship between our two nations.”Erdoğan sworn in as Turkey’s first executive presidentHussain arrived in Ankara to attend the inauguration ceremony of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.“These relations are based on heritage, culture, religion and they are very strong bonds. I think that with the passing of time, these relations will grow.”During his interview, Hussain congratulated Erdogan, calling him "a brother".“I hope and I pray for the prosperity and welfare of the Turkish nation and the future," he said.The June 24 vote marked Turkey's transition to an executive presidential system of government, doing away with the prime minister's post, among other changes.Video: Pakistani President arrives in Ankara to attend Erdogan's inaugurationErdogan won an absolute majority in the presidential election with 52.5 percent of the vote, according to Turkey’s Supreme Election Council (YSK).Hussain said: “I think they [the relations] don’t change with the changes in the political system and other changes […] anywhere on the globe.”“The relations between our two countries are on very strong bonds. It doesn’t matter what happens in the world and what changes there are," he added.The Pakistani leader also expressed hopes that relations in politics, defense, education and trade sectors would further improve.“I hope that, in the future, we will be enhancing trade relations because this is very important. Turkey is a very important country of this region, doing very good in the economics field. We would like to have exchanges of our products with the Turkish products."Defense cooperationReferring to Turkey’s recent move to sell corvette ships to Pakistan, he said: “It is a remarkable thing that we are getting this equipment [corvette ships] from Turkey. Turkey and Pakistan have been doing these things for a very long time.”Defense Minister Nurettin Canikli said on Thursday that Turkey would sell four corvette ships to Pakistan Navy after winning a tender.Hussain said Turkey and Pakistan would be very close to each other and cooperate in different sectors.A bilateral dialogue group was established in 2003 to suggest policies and unfolding plans for defense collaboration between the two countries.In 2016, Turkey had gifted 34 T-37 aircraft and their spare parts to Pakistan.TIKA’s activitiesIn his remarks, the Pakistani president also praised Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA)’s operation in his country.He said: “TIKA was very active in providing help to the affected people in Pakistan [during earthquakes and floods]. TIKA has established many schools in Pakistan and one hospital has also been established by TIKA.”He continued: “TIKA is doing a wonderful job to help our Pakistani people wherever something is needed."SCO membershipPakistan would welcome Turkey with joy if it becomes a member of Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), Hussain said.“I think the organization will get the benefit when Turkey becomes a member of SCO […]. Strategically, I think Turkey will be helping the SCO in a very nice way.”The SCO is a Eurasian political, economic, and security organization established in 2001. Originally it included Russia, China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.Last year, India and Pakistan joined the organization. Besides, Iran and Afghanistan currently have observer status in the SCO.
Pakistani president hails ‘strong ties’ with Turkey
On July 6, a Pakistani court had handed down a 10-year jail term to Sharif and also imposed 8 million pounds ($10.58 million) fine on him in a graft case linked to the buying of four luxury apartments at Avenfiled House in London's posh Park Lane area in 1993 allegedly through illegal means.
His daughter Maryam and her husband Safdar were sentenced to seven years and one year in jail, respectively. The court had also ordered the confiscation of the four apartments in London, and imposed a fine of 2 million pounds ($2.65 million) on Maryam.
Pakistan's army said on Tuesday it will deploy about 371,000 troops to ensure a "fair and free" election on July 25, denying it was rigging the poll to tip the scales in favour of former cricketer Imran Khan.The run-up to the general election has been marred by accusations that the military is meddling in politics and muzzling the media to help usher Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) into power.Khan, an anti-corruption crusader and conservative on national security, has denied colluding with the military, which has ruled the nuclear-armed country for almost half its history.Military spokesman Major General Asif Ghafoor told a news conference that a total of 371,388 troops would be deployed inside and outside polling stations, some three times more than during the last election in 2013.The election commission had asked the armed forces to help conduct the vote in a "free, fair and transparent manner", and the army's role was to assist, he said."We need to give them support they have asked for," Ghafoor said in the garrison city of Rawalpindi, near Islamabad.The military's role in politics has again come into question since the Supreme Court ousted Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in 2017 for failing to report a monthly income of 10,000 Emirati dirhams ($2,723) from a company owned by his son.He denied drawing the monthly salary and has denounced his ouster as politically motivated, often suggesting the military was to blame.The military denies involvement in civilian politics but ended Sharif’s second stint in power in 1999 in a bloodless coup.The July election is likely to come down to a contest between Sharif's Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) and Khan and his PTI party.Ghafoor dismissed suspicions that the military was favouring Khan."We don't have a political party. We don't have a loyalty," he said.Ghafoor also dismissed any suggestion the military was forcing Sharif's supports to switch parties.Sharif, who was last week sentenced to 10 years in prison on charges linked to corruption, has alleged the military and its security agency has been pressing his party's candidates to switch loyalties.Sharif, who is in London caring for his wife who is there for medical treatment, fell out with the military when he returned as prime minister for a third time in 2013, partly because he challenged the military over foreign policy, which the generals traditionally consider their domain.Pakistani poll campaign marred by 'engineering' claimsImran Khan's party gains ground in Pakistan election race
Pakistan's army denies meddling, to deploy 371,000 troops to guard vote
The local TV channels showed videos of PML-N leaders and workers protesting outside the police stations in Lahore, where their workers were detained.
Shehbaz Sharif, former Punjab chief minister and president of the PML-N, condemned the detention of party workers.
“We are not afraid of jails and shackles and a warm welcome for our party supremo is our legal and constitutional right,” Sharif told Geo News in an interview.
“I will go to the airport along with party workers to receive Nawaz on Friday,” he maintained.
Government's response
Meanwhile, Syed Ali Zafar, the caretaker federal information minister said, the government is not taking action against the individuals of any party.
A senior Russian military delegation entered the opposition-held area of the southern Syrian city of Daraa city on Thursday and began negotiations over its handover to state rule, opposition officials and a witness said.Two armoured vehicles with senior Russian officers entered the area of al Shayah in the devastated old city and began talks with commanders from the Free Syrian Army (FSA) on implementing the terms of a surrender deal reached last Friday that also includes evacuation of the opposition and a weapons handover. Syrian regime prepares to raise flag over opposition-held Daraa
Russian military enters opposition-held enclave in Syria's Daraa city
“The implementation of the court order is our constitutional obligation and if anyone has a complaint against the decision he can go to the Supreme Court and High court,” Zafar told reporters in Islamabad.
“The government is impartial and our mandate is to run the affairs peacefully,” he added.
Sharif, who is currently in London to see his ailing wife, has already announced that he will return to Pakistan on July 13 despite the court verdict against him.
“Doctors said they can’t say when my mother would regain consciousness but we have decided to return Pakistan on Friday,” Maryam Nawaz, who is also in London, said on Twitter.
Last July, 68-year-old Sharif was barred from holding public office by the Supreme Court over the whistleblower Panama Papers scandal, which also led to the filing of three corruption cases, including the Avenfield properties case against him and his family.
Not long after, the top court also barred him from holding the leadership of his political party, the Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N).
The former premier insists all transactions he and his family made were legal.
Sharif, who served as the premier from 1990 to 1992, 1997 to 1999, and 2013 to 2017, could not complete even a single five-year term. His two previous governments were dismissed over corruption charges and through a bloodless military coup in 1992 and 1999, respectively.