Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) Vice President Mushahidullah Khan has said that Shahbaz Sharif's decision to return was final and the government's attempts to stop his homecoming by arresting him showed 'utter frustration'.
"Shahbaz Sharif's return to the country is the final and unanimous verdict of the party leaders and workers. He is staging comeback to end the 'military rule' at home," Mushahid said while addressing a press conference here on Sunday.
He said that the government had arrested 1100 PML-N workers all over the country. But he reminded the government that such tactics could not deter the party resolve to accord a warm welcome to its leader on Tuesday in Lahore.
He rejected the impression that the Sharif family had signed any exile agreement with General Musharraf.
He alleged that Musharraf administration was offering lame excuses in this regard and challenged the government to present evidence regarding the deal if it was true in its assertion.
He said that the government had threatened the transporters not to provide vehicles to the organisers to arrange transport for taking the party workers to Lahore for welcoming Shahbaz.
He said that the government has warned the transporters that their vehicles would be confiscated if they disobeyed government orders.
He said that raids were launched on the residences of party leaders in different parts of the country while intelligence people had been deputed outside the houses of party leaders.
Mushahid alleged that the government had failed to maintain law and order in the country. The whole government machinery is after the political leaders. They have ignored their prime duty to focus on law and order, he said.
He appealed to party workers to ensure their participation in a warm welcome "to the party president in Lahore". He said that the "karwan" will leave Rawalpindi for Lahore at 7 am on May 11.
In reply to a question, he said that PML-N would interact with the international organisations on Shahbaz's return, and warned that if the government arrested him the party would launch a countrywide agitation.