Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo and former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Saturday returned to the country, ending his four-year self-imposed exile in London. His special charter flight landed in Islamabad from Dubai, media reports said. The PML-N supremo’s legal team including former law minister Senator Azam Tarar and party leaders were present at the airport to receive him, according to Dawn.
Tarar said Nawaz will be consulted on political and legal issues upon his arrival. He confirmed that the court staff also reached the airport and now “the legal process of security guarantee will be completed”.
Ex-deputy mayor Zeeshan Naqvi was also present at the airport along with the oath commissioner to get the legal documents signed.Before boarding his flight, Nawaz said he was “happy to return”. He is likely to face a host of legal challenges before embarking on his election campaign to rev up his party’s prospects in the lead-up to elections due in January next year. Nawaz will arrive at 5pm on schedule to address the gathering.
Nawaz’s party is rallying its base, urging supporters to converge on Minar-i-Pakistan in Lahore from around the country to greet their leader and showcase the undiminished popularity of the party, which has been declared ‘irrelevant’ by its rivals.