October 18, 2007	Thursday	Shawwal 5, 1428

LAHORE, Oct 17: The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s (PML-N) top brass is considering delaying the return of Nawaz Sharif until Nov 15 when a caretaker set-up takes over in the country.

A final decision regarding Mr Sharif’s return will be taken at a meeting of the PML-N’s central working committee to be held shortly in London after Mr Sharif arrives here from Saudi Arabia, party officials privy to the development say.

Officials say the decision is being taken in the wake of the deportation of the former prime minister when he had made an abortive attempt to land in Islamabad on Sept 10.

The harsh response of the government, especially of Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi, by arresting all important PML-N leaders and barricading all major highways in the province to prevent activists from welcoming their leader in Islamabad shows that the incumbent dispensation is afraid of the return of Mr Sharif for his ability to shake the balance of power by making dents in the ruling PML, they say.

When Mr Sharif tried to return on Sept 10, many ruling party members of assemblies started contacting the PML-N to secure their place in the future political arena, they add.

Officials say even though the caretakers, to be nominated by the present set-up, will not have any soft corner for the Sharif brothers, they may not be as much hostile to the exiled family as the Chaudhrys of Gujrat are.

He said some Arab friends had tried to arrange a meeting between Mr Sharif and PML President Shujaat Husain, but the former refused to reconcile with the latter. — Staff Reporter