New developments have surfaced concerning the return plan of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, who is set to arrive in the country on October 21, concluding a four-year self-imposed exile.
The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader departed from London on Wednesday and is presently in Saudi Arabia, where he performed Umrah. He will subsequently proceed to Dubai. A private television quoted that the former premier is scheduled to land at Lahore’s Allama Iqbal Airport on October 21 (Saturday).
The “Umeed-e-Pakistan” flight is expected to depart from the UAE at 8:30 am and touch down in the provincial capital at 12:30 pm. More than 150 passengers, including party members and journalists, will be accompanying the PML-N leader on this flight.
Following its stop in Islamabad from Dubai, the special flight will head to Lahore, where Nawaz will address the gathering organized by his party supporters.
In November 2019, the former prime minister had arrived in London via an air ambulance to seek medical treatment for various illnesses after obtaining permission to leave Pakistan from the Lahore High Court. Accompanied by his brother Shehbaz Sharif and a personal physician, he was taken to his London residence at Avenfield Apartments.
Despite initially planning to stay in London for a short period, Nawaz continued to receive regular medical check-ups at the Harley Street clinic. Opting not to return to Pakistan, he commenced addressing party workers from London and has since managed party affairs from there.
This marks Nawaz’s second period of exile following his initial removal in a bloodless military coup in 1999.
