Former Pakistani PM Sharif Returns to Country After 4-Year Absence
Former Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has returned to Pakistan after four years in exile. According to reports in the national media, Sharif and his party members arrived at the Islamabad airport on a private charter plane.
Upon his arrival, Sharif held a meeting with his lawyers in Islamabad before heading to Lahore. He is scheduled to speak at a rally organized for him in Lahore. Sharif’s return was made possible after the Islamabad High Court granted him interim bail until October 24 in two corruption cases for which he was on trial. Additionally, another court suspended his detention order, paving the way for his return to the country.
Nawaz Sharif had previously left Pakistan in November 2019, following his dismissal from the post of Prime Minister due to his involvement in the “Panama Papers” scandal. He was accused of having offshore accounts in Panama. After spending 10 months in prison, Sharif was released for two months in November 2019 for medical treatment abroad.
The Supreme Court had allowed Sharif to leave prison for eight weeks, with a maximum of four weeks to be spent abroad. This period could be extended upon the recommendation of his doctors. Subsequently, Sharif went to England for medical treatment and has been residing in London since then.
In December 2020, the Islamabad High Court declared Sharif a “fugitive from justice” when he failed to attend the corruption cases against him. However, Sharif expressed his objection to the court decisions and sought a way to return to Pakistan.
A diplomatic passport was issued to Nawaz Sharif on November 10, 2022. Government officials have stated that the legal groundwork has been prepared for his return to the country.
Nawaz Sharif has served as Prime Minister of Pakistan three times, during the periods of 1990-1993, 1997-1999, and 2013-2017. His return has sparked significant interest and anticipation among the Pakistani public.
