Former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is anticipated to make his way back to Pakistan next month, as announced by his brother and current Prime Minister, Shehbaz Sharif. Nawaz’s impending return will mark a significant development in the country’s political landscape, as he is poised to confront pending court cases and take charge of his party’s campaign for the upcoming general elections.
Nawaz Sharif has been residing in self-imposed exile in London since November 2019, subsequent to his conviction in the Al-Azizia Mills and Avenfield corruption cases in 2018. His absence from the country was predicated on “medical grounds,” following his seven-year imprisonment at Lahore’s Kot Lakhpat Jail in connection with the Al-Azizia Mills case.
In an exclusive interview with a private news channel, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif disclosed his intention to visit his elder brother in London upon the installation of the caretaker government in Pakistan. He restated his belief that Nawaz Sharif would secure his fourth term as Pakistan’s Prime Minister if their political party, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), prevails in the forthcoming elections scheduled for later this year.
The announcement aligns with the initiation of the process to establish the caretaker setup, officially commencing with the dissolution of the National Assembly three days ahead of the stipulated timeframe.
While the exact date of Nawaz Sharif’s return remains unspecified, the Prime Minister affirmed that Nawaz would not only confront the legal proceedings awaiting him but also take the helm of the election campaign.
Nawaz Sharif’s tumultuous political journey has witnessed his resignation as Prime Minister in 2017, subsequent to a Supreme Court verdict that disqualified him for life on charges of concealing assets. Despite the setback, Nawaz Sharif’s appeals against the conviction remain pending in the judicial system.
In a pointed remark directed at Imran Khan, the chief of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif quipped, “He (Nawaz Sharif) will neither wear a hat nor a bucket.” This subtle jab alludes to Imran Khan’s practice of wearing a bulletproof helmet during court appearances.
As the anticipation for Nawaz Sharif’s return heightens, the political climate in Pakistan braces itself for potential shifts and dynamics that could reshape the nation’s trajectory in the months to come.