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Pak not to allow Shahbaz Sharief to return

The Pakistan government on Monday said it will not allow Shahbaz Sharief, recently elected Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) chief, to return and asked former premier Benazir Bhutto to head back home to make a 'plea bargain' in the corruption cases against her.

"The military regime will not permit deposed premier Nawaz Sharief's brother Shahbaz to return from his exile despite his election as leader of Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz)," Interior Minister Moinuddin Haider told reporters in Karachi.

"Sharief's family opted to leave the country as a part of a deal struck with the government and would be dealt with accordingly... it is between the parties that permitted them to leave Pakistan safely and his return would be a violation," Haider said.

Haider denied media reports that Shahbaz's election followed a deal between Nawaz Sharief and the Musharraf regime to isolate former Bhutto. Haider also said Bhutto should return from her self-exile to 'admit to her guilt' in the corruption cases filed against her and apply for a 'plea bargain'.

"She should return to Pakistan and enter a plea bargain as a number of others facing corruption charges have done. In the process she might get relief as well," he said.

Plea bargain is the new compromise formula brought in by the military regime under which politicians and officials are given the chance to plead guilty to charges against them and pay the stipulated amounts fixed by the National Accountability Bureau, an official agency probing corruption cases.

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