Pak SCs ruling on Sharifs domestic matter, says US

The US State Department took note of Pakistans Supreme Court decision permitting the Sharifs to return home, but declined to comment saying that this is a domestic political matter.

Washington, Aug 24 : The US State Department took note of Pakistan's Supreme Court decision permitting the Sharifs to return home, but declined to comment saying that this is a domestic political matter.

The State Department had taken note of the decision, there "has not been a determination regarding the particular legal charges against him (Nawaz Sharif)," an official said.

"Obviously, we follow events in Pakistan closely, but this is a domestic political matter up to Pakistanis to decide," he said.

"We don't support any particular party or candidate" but "we do support the democratic process," , the Daily Times quoted, the official, as saying.

The "particular legal charges," which the official did not specify, appear to relate to the charges made against the deposed former Prime Minister by the Musharraf regime, namely the attempted hijacking of the aircraft that was bringing the General back to Pakistan from Sri Lanka in October 1999.

The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Thursday gave a landmark verdict, paving the way for former Prime Minister Sharif and his brother Shahbaz Sharif to return home and contest in the forthcoming general elections.

Announcing the verdict, the apex court observed that the Sharif brothers are Pakistanis, and can participate in the national politics after coming back.

In a brief judgement, the court said that under Article 3 of the Constitution, no citizen of the country could be stopped from his or her return to home.

ANI