Nawaz Sharif LIVE: Former Pak PM, Daughter Land in Lahore to Face Arrest as Supporters Clash With Police

The Etihad aircraft is now taxing on the runway as former Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif and daughter Maryam wait inside with a number of reporters. The two PML-N leaders are likely to be arrested immediately after the come out of the aircraft.

SHARIF LANDS IN LAHORE | The Etihad flight carrying former Pak PM Nawaz Sharif and daughter Maryam has just landed in Lahore, reports Geo News.

The bombing was the biggest attack in Pakistan in over a year and is the third incident of election-related violence this week.

A suicide bomber killed 70 people at an election rally in southwestern Pakistan in the second election-related attack on Friday, officials said, amid growing tensions over ousted prime minister Nawaz Sharif's return ahead of the July 25 vote. The bombing was the biggest attack in Pakistan in over a year and is the third incident of election-related violence this week. Baluchistan caretaker Health Minister Faiz Kakar told Reuters that the death toll had risen to 70 people, with over 120 wounded. Police had earlier said that more than 1000 people were in attendance at the rally.

MUSTANG DEATH TOLL: 70 | Death toll in the Mustang blast in Balochistan province goes up to 70. This is the second such bomb blast in Pakistan on Friday targeting an election rally. Opposition leader and BAP candidate Siraj Raisani, whose rally was targeted in the attack, has also died. 

Imran Khan's former wife Reham Khan takes to Twitter to slam the crackdown on PML-N supporters.

The crackdown is making Nawaz Sharif a hero. Could this be a conspiracy? https://t.co/LR1TDBmbJr

— Reham Khan (@RehamKhan1) July 13, 2018

The embattled former prime minister is set to return to Pakistan from London on Friday with his daughter Maryam after being sentenced in a corruption case last week.

Reports of Pakistan Police firing tear gas at the crowd that has gathered at the Lahore airport area.

Section 144 imposed in Islamabad as Nawaz Sharif's Etihad flight to Lahore is about to be diverted to Islamabad over security concerns.

According to the Express Tribune, authorities have decided to divert the plane carrying ousted Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his daughter Maryam to Islamabad airport, citing security concerns in Lahore.

The Etihad flight carrying Nawaz Sharif and Maryam is currently flying over Khuzdar in Balochistan province of Pakistan.

PML-N supporters take out rallies in support of Nawaz Sharif and daughter Maryam Nawaz in Lahore. (Image credit: PML-N)

Flight Diverted to Islamabad | Nawaz Sharif's Etihad flight to Lahore has reportedly been diverted to Islamabad.

378 Arrested in Lahore | According to Pakistani media, 378 people have been arrested so far in Lahore as the city braces for the arrival of ousted prime minister Nawaz Sharif and his daughter Maryam Nawaz. Lahore has been on a lockdown as most of the roads have been shutdown along with the entry road to the airport.

There have been several reports of clashes in Lahore ahead of Nawaz Sharif's arrival in the city. Sharif will be arrested immediately after his landing, along with daughter Maryam Nawaz.

Police vs PML-N workers clashes begin at Lahore's entry points. pic.twitter.com/vdAX7ORHaf

— Sarfraz Ali (@ItsSarfrazAli) July 13, 2018

PML-N supporters clash with police in Lahore while on their way to the airport to greet Nawaz Sharif and daughter Maryam.

Lahore: PML-N supporters head towards Lahore airport ahead of Nawaz Sharif's arrival. #Pakistan pic.twitter.com/EE4qd4mvFQ

— ANI (@ANI) July 13, 2018

27 KILLED IN MUSTANG BOMBING | Death toll in the suicide bombing attack in southwestern Pakistan's Baluchistan province has left 27 dead, including Baluchistan provincial assembly candidate Siraj Raisani, whose brother Nawab Aslam Raisani had served as the provincial chief minister from 2008 to 2013. 

"What credibility will these elections have when the government is taking such a drastic action against our people and this crackdown is taking place all over the country?" Nawaz Sharif told Reuters at the airport in Abu Dhabi as he waited for a connecting flight to Lahore.

Ahead of his return, police swept through Lahore, arresting scores of Sharif's Pakistan Muslim League party workers to prevent them from greeting him at the airport.

Barbed wire was strung across some roads leading to the Lahore airport on Friday and barricades have been positioned at the roadside ready to close off main boulevards should crowds start to gather.

PML-N supporters chant slogans against the arrest of their activists in Lahore. (Image: Reuters)

According to Dawn, Nawaz Sharif and Maryam Nawaz are likely to be arrested immediately on their arrival at the Lahore airport, from where they are expected to be taken to Islamabad by helicopter and moved to Adiala jail. The state has also provisioned for the eventuality of the flight being diverted to Islamabad in case of 'inclement weather'.

Reports of clashes between PML-N supporters. Police in Lahore have blocked the entrance road to the airport. 

The Etihad Airways flight EY243 carrying Nawaz Sharif and daughter Maryam Nawaz is now on its way Lahore. The flight is expected to reach Pakistan around 9pm.

Cellphone services have been suspended in certain parts of Lahore in anticipation of the arrival of Nawaz Sharif and Maryam Nawaz. Contingents of Rangers have been deployed in and around Lahore Airport, reports Dawn.

According to reports from Pakistan, scores of supporters of Nawaz Sharif have brought cranes to demolish barricades erected across most roads in Lahore.

A convoy of #NawazSharif supporters from Raiwind had brought cranes with them to get rid of roadblocks in #Lahore. pic.twitter.com/CmxPug2viw

— Maija Liuhto (@MaijaLiuhto) July 13, 2018

Nawaz Sharif and Maryam Nawaz have boarded the flight from Abu Dhabi to Lahore. (Image via Twitter)

PTI leader Imran Khan condemns the bomb attack on an election rally in Mustang that killed the opposition candidate here.

Another condemnable terrorist attack on a political gathering - this time in Mastung. Saddened to learn of Nawabzada Siraj Raisini's shahadat in this targeted attack as well as the shahadat of 15 other innocent citizens.

— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) July 13, 2018

Nawaz Sharif and scores of mediapersons aboard the flight to Lahore.

Huge presence of media on plane@MaryamNSharif #NawazSharif pic.twitter.com/kgxeNtkouf

— Daily Nawa-i-Waqt (@Nawaiwaqt_) July 13, 2018

Nawaz Sharif and Maryam Nawaz have reportedly boarded the flight to Lahore.

نواز شریف اور مریم نواز لاہور جانے کے لئے طیارے کی طرف جاتے ہوئے@MaryamNSharif #NawazSharif pic.twitter.com/0KAw51spMS

— Daily Nawa-i-Waqt (@Nawaiwaqt_) July 13, 2018