PESHAWAR, Sept 11: The NWFP chapter of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has said that Mian Nawaz Sharif wanted to go to a prison in Pakistan and not to a palace in Saudi Arabia as claimed by the authorities.

Speaking at a news conference at the Peshawar Press Club on Tuesday, PML-N provincial president Pir Sabir Shah said the military regime had committed contempt of court by forcibly sending Mr Sharif to Saudi Arabia.

He claimed that the authorities kept the former premier in illegal confinement at the airport for four hours and did not let him proceed to his home in Lahore.

He pointed out that Mr Sharif had come to Pakistan after a recent Supreme Court verdict, which had called for his unhindered return and stay in the country.

He alleged that the government kidnapped Mr Sharif and deported him to Saudi Arabia. He said the PML had filed a petition in the Supreme Court about Mr Sharif’s deportation.

He said the PML-N had launched a movement to oust the military rulers in the larger interest of the country. Begum Kulsoom Nawaz, who planned to return home soon, would now be leading the movement for restoration of democracy.

Mr Shah claimed that the Saudi royal family in effect was helping Gen Pervez Musharraf prolong his unconstitutional rule. He also criticised the United States for extending help to Gen Musharraf and for “acting against the wishes of the Pakistani people”.

He lauded the courage of PML-N workers and leaders who, according to him, marched towards Islamabad from Swat, Malakand, Mardan, Charsadda, Kohat, Peshawar, Karak, Lakki Marwat, Bannu and Hazara regions in their thousands but were stopped from entering Punjab.

Mr Shah said the Punjab police broke all records of brutality on Monday, and added that the police fired thousands of tear-gas shells to disperse PML-N workers.

He said the NWFP chapter of the PML-N had requested Begum Kulsoom Nawaz to land at the Peshawar airport as the Pakhtun knew how to protect their guests. He claimed that things would have been different had Mr Sharif decided to land at the Peshawar airport.

PML provincial general secretary Anwar Kamal Khan, who entered Khushal Garh at the head of a big procession on Monday, also condemned the authorities and vowed that the PML would continue its struggle against the military-led government.

He said that Gen Musharraf had tarnished the image of the armed forces.