Nawaz Sharif’s Return
DUBAI: Former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has departed for Pakistan from Dubai via a chartered plane named “Umeed-e-Pakistan” after four years of self-imposed exile in London.
The special flight, carrying 164 people from his party and media organizations, departed from Dubai airport at 10.50 am (PST) after a delay of 1 hour and 22 minutes. It is expected to land at Islamabad airport at around 1.45 pm (PST).
After a brief stay in Islamabad to fulfill legal formalities, the former PM will leave for Lahore to address the party’s much-hyped power show at Minar-e-Pakistan, where he will unveil the party’s future course of action.
PML-N workers and supporters from across the country are converging in Lahore via trains and by road to welcome their leader, who is hoping to make a political comeback ahead of upcoming general elections.
Nawaz’s smooth return to the country was ensured after he secured relief from the Islamabad High Court and an accountability court earlier this week, averting the threat of immediate arrest when he lands back in the country.
Nawaz has been prime minister three times but was ousted in 2017 and given a lifetime disqualification from politics after being convicted for not declaring a receivable salary.
His fortunes changed when his brother Shehbaz Sharif came to power last year, and his government oversaw changes to the law, including limiting the disqualification of lawmakers from contesting elections to five years. Despite his convictions, his legal team plans to appeal, and his party aims for him to become prime minister for a fourth time.
Convictions and Court Orders in Nawaz Sharif’s Political Journey
Nawaz Sharif received a sentence in Avenfield and Al-Azizia Steel Mills references from an accountability court. Appeal proceedings were ongoing when he traveled abroad for medical treatment, failing to return for the case.
Following his move to the Lahore High Court, he was allowed to go abroad for four weeks with an undertaking from his brother, Shehbaz Sharif, for his return upon improved health. In his absence, the Islamabad High Court dismissed the appeals due to “non-prosecution,” declaring Nawaz a proclaimed offender.
The court clarified that the appeals were rejected on technical grounds, not on merit. Upon his return, the applicant can file an appeal against the sentence. This week, the IHC granted him protective bail in the graft cases until October 24 to facilitate his surrender before the court.
