In a significant development in Pakistan’s political landscape, former Prime Minister and PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif has declared his return to the country after a prolonged four-year exile in the United Kingdom. The announcement was officially confirmed by his brother and PML-N President, Shehbaz Sharif, on Tuesday.
A statement issued by Shehbaz Sharif, disseminated via PML-N Information Secretary Marriyum Aurangzeb on the social media platform X, outlined that Nawaz Sharif would receive a grand and welcoming return upon his arrival.
During a press conference held in London alongside Nawaz Sharif, Shehbaz Sharif revealed the specified date of return as October 21. He emphasized that this decision was made following extensive consultations within the party.
Shehbaz Sharif further clarified that Nawaz Sharif’s return would commence in Lahore, where he would personally receive his elder brother. He expressed the nation’s anticipation of Nawaz Sharif’s return and the prospects of economic progress aligning with the former Prime Minister’s tenure.
Responding to questions about the Pakistan Peoples Party’s (PPP) concerns regarding elections and the PML-N’s stance on timely elections, Shehbaz Sharif asserted that it is the constitutional duty of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to conduct elections. He expressed confidence in the ECP’s ability to fulfill this constitutional responsibility while considering the new census data.
Earlier in July, Shehbaz Sharif had announced that if the PML-N were to secure victory in the forthcoming elections, Nawaz Sharif would be the party’s nominee for the position of Prime Minister.
The PML-N has recently faced public discontent, primarily due to its leadership during the previous coalition government, which led to widespread dissatisfaction, particularly concerning inflated power bills. Compounded by Nawaz Sharif’s absence from the country, the PML-N is also grappling with internal pressures, as calls for the return of their party leader intensify.
In an interview, senior PML-N leader Khawaja Asif underscored the necessity of the Sharif brothers’ presence in Pakistan. The party’s leadership had contemplated applying for bail for Nawaz Sharif in the Islamabad High Court before his return.
Nawaz Sharif’s legal troubles began in 2018 when he was convicted in the Al-Azizia Mills and Avenfield corruption cases. These cases remain sub-judice.
Nawaz Sharif initially left Pakistan in November 2019 on medical grounds following his conviction in a corruption case but never returned. In June 2023, significant legislative changes were introduced, paving the way for his potential return. The Elections (Amendment) Act 2023 granted the Election Commission of Pakistan the authority to unilaterally set election dates and reduced the disqualification period for lawmakers to five years, with retrospective effect.
Moreover, in June, an accountability court acquitted Nawaz Sharif in a case related to the alleged illegal allotment of plots in 1986 to a media house owner. This development, along with legislative amendments, has fueled speculation about Nawaz Sharif’s political resurgence upon his return.
