Wife of deposed Pakistani premier defies gov't, talks to press

0 Comments | Asian Political News, July 17, 2000

ISLAMABAD, July 10 Kyodo

The wife of deposed Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said Sunday she would defy orders by the military government of Gen. Pervez Musharraf banning political activities and placing her under house arrest.

Kulsoom Nawaz addressed reporters via a microphone from within her house in Lahore's posh Model Town district, where she was placed under house arrest Saturday.

The local Punjab government had cordoned off the residence of the deposed premier Friday night to block a plan by Kulsoom to lead a 500-kilometer rally from Lahore to Peshawar in the country's northwest in defiance of a government ban.

Kulsoom frustrated the city administration Saturday by breaking through the cordon and refusing to leave her car when she was stopped by police. The car was towed to a parking area and she was allowed to return to her house after a lengthy standoff.

The defiant spouse of deposed Premier Sharif said she would make a fresh call on her supporters to rally after consulting her aides.

Musharraf banned political rallies before U.S. President Bill Clinton visited Pakistan in March.

The deposed prime minister, ousted by Musharraf in a bloodless coup last October, lives in a compound of seven houses that belong to his father and his six brothers, who founded the industrial empire known as the House of Ittefaq, which is among the 22 largest industrial conglomerates in Pakistan.