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Sharif Registers As Pakistani Candidate

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[November 26, 2007]  LAHORE, Pakistan (AP) -- Former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, fresh from a triumphant return from exile, registered Monday as a candidate for Pakistan's crucial parliamentary elections.

However, he maintained a threat to boycott the January vote and said that, even if he did take part, he would not lead any government under Pakistan's embattled military president.

Sharif signed his nomination papers at a court in the eastern city of Lahore. Supporters packed into the courtroom chanting "Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif!"

His surprise return to Pakistan from exile Sunday poses a major threat to President Gen. Pervez Musharraf, the man who ousted him in a 1999 coup and became a key U.S. ally against international terrorism.

Musharraf is expected to step down as chief of Pakistan's powerful army this week and continue as a civilian -- a key demand of his domestic and international critics.

But Sharif insisted Musharraf would have to reinstate Supreme Court judges purged under the emergency and obtain their approval before he would be "acceptable" to his party.

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He also accused authorities of rigging the elections to benefit the ruling party.

"We don't want to boycott elections, but if you push someone to the wall ... what options are left?" Sharif said earlier Monday at his country estate outside the eastern city of Lahore.

"We demand restoration of all judges, lifting of curbs on media, lifting of emergency before elections," he said.

Sharif arrived from Saudi Arabia, where has spent most of his eight years in exile.

In September, Musharraf swiftly booted Sharif back to the kingdom when he flew into Pakistan. But Musharraf appears to have lost the support of the Saudi royal family, who provided a special flight to carry Sharif and a host of his relatives home.

[Associated Press; By ZARAR KHAN]

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