Sharif Defies Government Order, May Be Arrested Soon

[tekisui]

Source: NDTV

Pakistan is on the edge amidst reports that it's just a matter of time before the government places Nawaz Sharif and his brother Shahbaz under house arrest.

Media reports are also saying President Asif Zardari has been asked to stay in Dubai in the wake of the crisis at home, but the government has denied these reports.

The president is currently in Tehran on a two-day visit and reports said he has been asked to go to Dubai next instead of coming back to Pakistan. There are reports that the Pak Army chief is currently meeting the prime minister.

As the government continues its crackdown against leaders of Nawaz Sharif's PML-N, Sharif has himself chosen to defy the government and stage a massive rally in Abbottabad.

The showdown between Zardari and Sharif comes ahead of a massive rally planned by lawyers and opposition leaders to Islamabad.

They have been demanding the reinstatement of Supreme Court chief justice Iftikhar Chaudhry and other judges sacked by former president Pervez Musharraf.

Sharif wants the Chief Justice reinstated and Zardari reportedly is opposed to this since Justice Chaudhry could overturn the agreement he had reached with Pervez Musharraf whereby all charges against him were dropped.

Reports suggest that the spokesperson of the former Chief Justice has been now arrested and there is an arrest warrant out for politician and former Pakistan cricket captain Imran Khan.

http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/story.aspx?id=NEWEN20090087073&ch=311200933700PM