Nawaz Sharif lands in Islamabad after spending four years in exile
ISLAMABAD/DUBAI , Oct 21 (SABAH): Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Supremo and former prime minister Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif landed in Islamabad after spending four years in exile as his party is confident that he will serve as Prime Minister of Pakistan for fourth term in his long political career.
Nawaz Sharif returned to Pakistan on Saturday, as his special charter flight landed in Islamabad.
The three-time premier was reported to head to the high court to secure bail and then travel to Lahore to address a rally at Minar-e-Pakistan.
However, senior PML-N leader and former planning minister Ahsan Iqbal, when asked if Nawaz had reached Islamabad to sort some legal issues out, told a private TV channel that he was “making a stopover” in Islamabad. He said he wasn’t aware of the reasons behind this travel plan, adding that the main event will start after Maghrib prayers.
According to party sources, preparations for the party chief’s return had been completed. Prior to his return, the Civil Aviation Authority had released the schedule for his special charter flight.
As per the schedule, the flight was to land at the Islamabad Airport at noon; depart from Islamabad to Lahore at 1:30 PM, and land at Allama Iqbal Airport at 2:20 PM. The schedule was however, later changed due to an hour’s delay in the flight’s take off from Dubai.
Along with Nawaz, party leaders and journalists also reached Pakistan. The party leaders traveling with Nawaz included Mian Nasir Janjua, Senator Irfan Siddiqui, PML-N UK President Zubair Gul, Pervez from the Netherlands and PML-N Chief Zahoor-ul-Haq from France.
The PML-N supremo’s legal team including former law minister Senator Chaudhry Azam Nazeer Tarar Advocate and party leaders are present at the airport to receive him.
Tarar said Nawaz will be consulted on political and legal issues upon his arrival, adding that the ex-premier will head to the VIP lounge after landing.
The immigration process of PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif has been completed following his arrival at the Islamabad airport.
Sources told a private TV channel that the immigration staff stamped on Sharif’s passport for entry into Pakistan.
The party’s leader got off the plane smiling and reached the airport’s lounge earlier with former finance minister Ishaq Dar accompanying him all the while.
Meanwhile, the immigration process for all the other passengers and journalists will take place in Lahore.
Upon his return, the senior politician signed the petition to revive his appeals against the conviction in Avenfield and Al-Azizia references.
Meanwhile Nawaz Sharif has said that he is returning to Pakistan after “vindication” and added that his party is “competent enough” to steer the country of crisis.
“I am returning to Pakistan after being vindicated with the grace of Almighty Allah,” he said on Saturday while speaking to the journalists at Dubai airport ahead of Pakistan departure.
The three-time former prime minister is returning to Pakistan after ending 4-year self-imposed exile in London and is hoping to make a political comeback in the upcoming general elections expected to be held in the last week of January next year.
The former PM said his party is in a position to resolve the masses’ woes if elected into power.
Responding to a question related to the general elections, Nawaz put his weight behind the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).
“Only the Election Commission can make a better decision regarding the elections. What the Election Commission thinks is right is my preference on the elections,” said Nawaz when he was asked about the January polls.
He also said that a “fair” Election Commission is in place in the country.
The PML-N supremo believes that his party is competent enough to take Pakistan out of the crisis that it is presently in.
“We are competent enough to solve the country’s problems,” he said.
While mentioning the achievements of his previous sting powers, the PML-N supremo lamented that the country is in a much “worse situation” rather than being in a good position.
“The situation in Pakistan is very disturbing and that is very worrying,” said Nawaz.
Soon before Nawaz Sharif’s plane landed in Islamabad, Maryam Nawaz Sharif said that it was “biggest day“ of her life. “The pain and suffering that Nawaz Sharif endured in the last 24 years are hardly comparable, and there are some wounds that will never heal, but the amount of times Nawaz Sharif has risen is probably not the same for anyone else,” Maryam said in a post on X.
PML-N Information Secretary Marriyum Aurangzeb said Saturday’s gathering in Lahore to welcome Nawaz Sharif will be the largest in the history of Pakistan and the region. The politician said the party’s supremo will reach the rally at Minar-e-Pakistan in Lahore following his return from Islamabad, after which he will go to Jati Umra.
She also shared that PML-N Chief Organiser Maryam Nawaz and Vice President Hamza Shahbaz will reach the venue in Lahore at 3pm.
Speaking with journalists in Punjab’s provincial capital, the PML-N leader said all of Pakistan is set to welcome Nawaz with a large number of women and youth marching towards Minar-e-Pakistan.
“Nawaz Sharif’s arrival is the harbinger of the rise and new prosperity for Pakistan,” Aurangzeb said, adding that there is no other leader like him in Pakistan.
The politician has advised those who create memes and fake news to take some rest today.
“Our opponents are also eyeing Nawaz Sharif’s arrival today,” she said, asking the “opponents” to join the PML-N in their celebration. When speaking about her leader’s return from exile after four years, the politician said: “Pakistan is going to write a new history.”