Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo and former prime minister Nawaz Sharif landed in Pakistan’s Islamabad airport on Saturday, ending his four-year long political exile. His so-called ‘Umeed-e-Pakistan’ flight landed in Islamabad airport on Saturday afternoon and scores of PML-N workers were present to greet their leader who is expected to lead the party in the upcoming elections and could even become the prime minister of the crisis-ridden nation for the fourth time, Pakistan-based news outlet GeoTV said.
Former finance minister Ishaq Dar was present with party cadres to welcome Nawaz.
“We are competent enough to solve the country’s problems. The situation in Pakistan is very disturbing and that is very worrying,” Nawaz Sharif said before boarding his flight from Dubai.
The former prime minister, who is a proclaimed offender in the Avenfield, Al-Azizia and Toshakhana cases, received protective bail in the first two cases and was granted relief in the third case.
“Today is probably the biggest day of my life. The pains and sufferings that Nawaz Sharif has endured in the last 24 years are hardly comparable, and there are some wounds that will never heal. Pakistan is going to see another rise of Nawaz Sharif today, God willing! Welcome Nawaz Sharif!” senior PML-N leader and the daughter of Nawaz Sharif said in a post on social media site X (formerly Twitter).
His brother and former Pakistan prime minister Shehbaz Sharif also welcomed him in a X post. “My leader Nawaz Sharif will be among you today, InshaAllah. He is coming back to unite this nation, not to divide it further. He is coming back to spread love among his people, not hatred. He is coming back to help you become a productive citizen, not ammunition for any party or group. He is coming back to put Pakistan back on track,” his younger brother said.
میری زندگی کا شاید آج سب سے بڑا دن ہے۔ میں اللّہ ربّ العزت کی شکر گزار ہوں۔ جتنے دکھ اور تکالیف نواز شریف نے پچھلے 24 سالوں میں سہے، شاید ہی اس کی کوئی مثال ہو، اور انکے کچھ زخم ایسے ہیں جو کبھی نہیں بھر پائیں گے مگر جتنے عروج بھی نواز شریف نے دیکھے وہ بھی شائد کسی اور کے حصے میں…— Maryam Nawaz Sharif (@MaryamNSharif) October 21, 2023
The former prime minister, who is a proclaimed offender in the Avenfield, Al-Azizia and Toshakhana cases, received protective bail in the first two cases and was granted relief in the third case. One of the most prominent cases is the Panama Papers scandal in 2016, which revealed that his family owned luxury apartments in London through offshore companies.
My leader Nawaz Sharif will be among you today, InshaAllah. He is coming back to unite this nation, not to divide it further. He is coming back to spread love among his people, not hatred. He is coming back to help you become a productive citizen, not ammunition for any party or… pic.twitter.com/AaaKoupYxw— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) October 21, 2023
However, this has not dampened the mood within the PML-N camp. PML-N cadres from all over the country have congregated in Lahore and Islamabad. Those in Islamabad will soon move to Lahore where Nawaz Sharif will lead a rally in Minar-e-Pakistan on Saturday evening.
Several special trains were booked to facilitate the travel of the cadres and two aircraft were hired to shower rose and flower petals on the cadres and their leader.
Nawaz Sharif was chosen prime minister thrice but was ousted in 2017 and handed a lifetime disqualification from politics after being convicted for not declaring a receivable salary.
Sharif is also expected to make announcements related to his political future and the PML-N electoral aspirations for the upcoming general elections in crisis-hit Pakistan.
“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,” Sharif said.