The two top leaders of Pakistan Muslim League (N) have sought orders of the apex court that the government should not directly or indirectly obstruct, hamper or resist their and members of their families return to Pakistan and force them to live in continued exile.
Senior Advocate Fakhruddin G Ebrahim will plead their petitions, which were filed under Article 184 (3) of the Constitution with reference to enforcement of fundamental rights of the citizens.
The petitioners have argued that they are citizens of Pakistan and have an inviolable and unqualified right to return to and remain in their country under Article 15 of the Constitution and could participate in the forthcoming general elections under Article 17 of the Constitution in accordance with the law.
Nawaz Sharif said he was the duly elected prime minister of Pakistan until he was removed from office on October 12, 1999 after the military coup d'etat. He was arrested, charged and tried for the offence of hijacking and remained confined and detained in Pakistan until December 10, 2000.
He said on December 10, 2000, he and other members of his immediate family, including his brother Shahbaz Sharif were deported from their homeland and forced to live in exile. He contended that leadership of PML (N) was forcibly ousted so as to cause the party's ultimate annihilation and deprive the people of Pakistan from exercising their right of representation guaranteed under the Constitution of Pakistan.
He vehemently denied that there was any 'deal' between him and the government to go in exile for 10 years and not take part in politics. A two-member bench comprising Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry and Justice M Javed Buttar will hear the petitions.