After a self-imposed exile spanning four years in the United Kingdom, Nawaz Sharif, the leader of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), is poised to make his return to Pakistan.
His party is rallying its supporters, urging them to gather at Lahore’s historic Minar-i-Pakistan monument from all corners of the country to welcome their leader and demonstrate the enduring popularity of the party, which its opponents have dismissed as ‘irrelevant.’
Ishaq Dar, former finance minister and a prominent member of the PML-N, confirmed that Nawaz Sharif would arrive in Islamabad from Dubai via a chartered plane on Saturday afternoon, Dawn News reported.
“After a brief stopover in Islamabad, he will proceed to Lahore to address a rally at Minar-i-Pakistan,” announced Mr. Dar during a press conference on Friday.
According to the PML-N, Nawaz Sharif is expected to land in Islamabad at approximately 12:30 PM on a chartered plane, and after spending a few hours in the capital, he may visit his Jati Umra residence before making his way to Minar-i-Pakistan later in the day.
Observers have speculated that Nawaz’s arrival in Islamabad is necessary to fulfill bail conditions granted by the Islamabad High Court on Thursday.
A senior PML-N leader from Punjab emphasized the importance of putting on a strong display for Nawaz Sharif’s homecoming, particularly in Lahore, which was once considered the party’s stronghold.
“The party leadership here is determined to succeed in this regard, as much is at stake,” he said.
This high-profile return coincides with Pakistan gearing up for general elections in the coming months, and Nawaz Sharif is expected to lead the PML-N’s campaign and potentially secure a fourth term as the country’s premier.
Nawaz Sharif had left for London in November 2019 on medical grounds after being granted a four-week bail by a higher court, having already served half of his seven-year jail term in the Al-Azizia corruption case.
During his four-year absence, he was declared a proclaimed offender in the Al-Azizia and Avenfield corruption cases due to his continuous absence from the legal proceedings, however, the court has granted him protective bail till October 24.