Islamabad:
Pakistan’s three-time Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif returned home today after four years of self-imposed exile, and is set to make a political comeback ahead of the elections. The 73-year-old Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo flew from Dubai to Islamabad on the chartered flight “Umeed-e-Pakistan” along with some family members, senior party leaders and friends.
Pakistan is facing overlapping security, economic and political crises ahead of polls already postponed until January 2024, with Sharif’s main opponent, the wildly popular Imran Khan, languishing in jail.
“This is a time for hope and celebration. His return is a good omen for Pakistan’s economy and its people,” said Khawaja Muhammad Asif, a senior leader of PML-N.
More than 7,000 police officers have been deployed to control the expected crowd at the Greater Iqbal Park, where his homecoming rally will later take place.
The return has been touted for months by the PML-N, whose leaders hope Sharif’s political clout and “man from the ground” swagger will revive declining popularity.
However, the former leader faces a corruption conviction and an unfinished prison sentence.
Earlier this week, the Islamabad High Court granted Sharif protective bail until Tuesday, removing the threat of immediate arrest when he lands back in the country.
