Shahbaz not willing to strike deal

While rumours continue to persist that Shahbaz Sharif, former Punjab chief minister, may still return to the country ahead of polls, Shahbaz himself has clarified that he would not like this to happen as a result of a "deal" with the military regime.

In a telephonic interview with the English-language daily, The News, Shahbaz has said that while he would "very much like to come back to the country" and be involved in "making my contribution to the political scene," he would not like this to take place as a result of any agreement reached with the government.

"I seek a respectable return on my own terms and I am ready to be arrested if that is what is to happen," Shahbaz said.

His clarification comes at a time when rumours of Shahbaz's expected return continue to circulate.

Some sources within the Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) insist that the military regime have "agreed" to allowing Shahbaz back, but problems were created when his elder brother and former prime minister Nawaz Sharif insisted he would like his wife, Kulsoom Nawaz, to head back to the country and take charge of party affairs, either as an office-bearer of the PML-N or from the "outside" without officially holding office.

It is thought that Nawaz is not willing to fully trust his younger brother, and a relative of the family said, "He has always feared Shahbaz's ambition", and was worried about Shahbaz "taking over" the PML-N.

It is also believed that partly as a result of this confusion, those brokering the "deal" between Shahbaz and the government have slowed down their efforts.

In turn, Shahbaz and the Musharraf's regime's reluctance to publicly acknowledge an "agreement" of any kind also added to the difficulties. Some of the conditions laid down by the regime were also apparently not acceptable to Shahbaz.

Pressure placed on the Musharraf administration from "pro-government political elements", who urged him not to permit the Sharif family to re-enter the political stage, are said also to have added to the difficulties in pushing through any compromise.

It is understood that the PML, Quaid-e-Azam in particular have remained "very anxious" about a possible return by Shahbaz or Kulsoom, and managed to extract from Musharraf a promise that this would not happen.

While Shahbaz has made it clear that he would like to return on his "own accord", it is also said that the attempts to negotiate a compromise with the regime on the issue are not yet over.

Some influential people, especially those based in Punjab, are still pressing for Shahbaz's return, and argue that this is "essential" to establish a credible leadership after polls.

Shahbaz too did not rule out the possibility of his return and said only that at present there is "no tangible move" for this.

He also said he believed his sister-in-law, Kulsoom, was a "very strong choice" to take over the PML-N leadership, adding to the speculation that the Sharif family could attempt to send Kulsoom back into the country ahead of polls.