As PML-N’s supreme leader Nawaz Sharif’s scheduled return to Pakistan approaches, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) is gearing up to reopen three cases linked to alleged illegal land allotments and share transfers.

These cases involve land acquisitions in Lahore and a controversial share transfer in Chaudhry Sugar Mills. The move by NAB follows a recent Supreme Court decision that invalidated amendments to the accountability law made by the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) government. Nawaz Sharif has been residing in the UK since November 2019, in what has been termed a “self-imposed” exile.

In one of the cases dating back to 1986, Nawaz Sharif, during his tenure as Punjab’s chief minister, is alleged to have misused his position to allot plots in Allama Iqbal Town and Gulberg, Lahore. Another accusation from 1998 revolves around the purported unlawful construction of a road from Adda Plot to his Lahore residence.

The third case pertains to disputed share transfers in Chaudhry Sugar Mills, which is owned by Nawaz Sharif and his family.

With these cases being reopened in anticipation of Nawaz Sharif’s return on October 21, PML-N leaders held a meeting at Jati Umra. The gathering was presided over by the party’s chief organizer, Maryam Nawaz Sharif, who recently returned from London.

During the meeting, party leaders, including Pervaiz Rashid, Javed Latif, Rana Sanullah, Mohsin Ranjha, and Marriyum Aurangzeb, briefed Maryam Nawaz on the party’s preparations for the elder Sharif’s arrival. It was revealed that Nawaz Sharif plans to travel to Minar-i-Pakistan by road upon landing at Lahore airport and address the public.

Attaullah Tarar, the party’s deputy secretary-general, also provided an update on the legal cases currently facing Nawaz Sharif.

The meeting also discussed the party’s ambitious plan to gather a large crowd to welcome Nawaz Sharif at Minar-i-Pakistan. Punjab has been divided into nine divisions, and coordinators, including Ahsan Iqbal, Khurram Dastgir, Saad Rafique, and others, have been appointed. Each coordinator is tasked with bringing 100,000 people to the event.

Maryam Nawaz emphasized that the coordinators’ performance would be evaluated based on the number of attendees they bring and called for a complete report during the next meeting on September 30.

Reports suggest that some senior leaders, including Khawaja Saad Rafique, have differences with the party’s Lahore President Saiful Malook Khokhar, which could pose challenges in mobilizing workers for Nawaz Sharif’s welcome.

Responding to rumors about a potential delay in Nawaz Sharif’s return, PML-N’s information secretary for Punjab, Azma Bokhari, dismissed such claims, stating that there has been no change in the plan, and he is still expected to arrive on October 21. She also mentioned that Nawaz Sharif’s legal team is working on obtaining protective bail ahead of his return.