QUETTA, Sept 23: Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) spokesman Dr Saeed Elahi has said that former prime minister Nawaz Sharif will return to the country soon after Eidul Fitr.

He said that efforts were under way at different levels to facilitate the return of the PML (N) leader from Saudi Arabia.

Addressing a news conference at the press club on Sunday, he said the deportation of Mr Sharif was a mockery of the Supreme Court verdict that had allowed him to return to the country.

Dr Saeed said that Nawaz Sharif was perturbed over the uncertain situation in Balochistan and assured that elements involved in the killing of Baloch people, including Nawab Akbar Bugti, would be held accountable for excesses committed by them.

Condemning the oppressive policies of the government, he said that Muslims were killing each other in the holy month of Ramazan because of unwise policies of the government.

Referring to the fighting between security forces and insurgents in Balochistan and Waziristan, he criticised President Musharraf for pitting the army against its own people.

He said that it was the responsibility of opposition parties to stop the government from committing atrocities against the people.

Dr Saeed criticised the arrest of APDM leaders and said that the cowardly act of the government proved that Gen Musharraf could not tolerate opposition leaders who were challenging his presidential candidature.