WASHINGTON, Sept 10: The United States has strongly reacted to Islamabad’s decision to deport former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, calling it a violation of an earlier order of the Supreme Court, which forbade the government from doing so.“The government’s decision to deport Mr Sharif to Saudi Arabia runs contrary to the Supreme Court’s decision,” a State Department official told Dawn.

The official made it clear that the US has played no part in the arrangement for sending Mr Sharif to Saudi Arabia. “With regard to the pledge that Mr Sharif made not to return to Pakistan, these are matters between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Mr Sharif himself. The US plays no part,” the official said.

The State Department not

only denied any US involvement in Mr Sharif’s deportation, it

also emphasised its strong support to a positive change in Pakistan.

“It is important that the transition to a new, elected government proceed in a legal and constitutional manner,” the official said. “We hope that all involved in the current political transition will act peacefully and avoid violence.”

Earlier, a White House spokesman described the deportation as an “internal matter” but noted that upcoming elections should be “free and fair”.

Meanwhile, spokesman Sean McCormack told a regular briefing at the State Department that the presence of two senior US officials — Deputy Secretary John Negroponte and Assistant Secretary Richard Boucher — in Islamabad in the middle of a grave political crisis is just a coincidence.

AGENCIES ADD: A European Union official said that Mr Sharif should be allowed to return from exile and be given a chance to defend himself against corruption charges in courts.

EU spokeswoman Christiane Hohmann told reporters on Monday that Pakistan’s government should respect the ruling by the Supreme Court.

Hohmann said: “In our view the Supreme Court ruling is very clear and should be respected.”