After more than four years in self-imposed exile in London, Nawaz Sharif, the former three-time prime minister and PML-N leader, departed from Dubai International Airport at around 10:30 am Pakistan standard time. His charter plane is expected to land at Islamabad Airport after 1:30 pm on a Saturday afternoon.
The Dubai Airport saw significant activity as UAE authorities provided special protocol for Nawaz Sharif. His flight, the special Fly Dubai flight FZ 4525, experienced an unexplained delay of over an hour despite its original departure time of 9:30 AM.
قائد مسلم لیگ ن محمد نوازشریف وطن روانگی کیلیے جہاز میں میں سوار#خوش_آمدید_نوازشریف pic.twitter.com/aQGzmPutro
— PMLN (@pmln_org) October 21, 2023
Approximately 150 people, including party leaders and journalists, accompanied Nawaz Sharif on his journey back to Pakistan. This group included PML-N leaders Mian Nasir Janjua, Irfan Siddiqui, PML-N president Zubair Gul from the UK, Parvez from the Netherlands, and PML-N chief Zahoor-ul-Haq from France, all traveling with Nawaz Sharif on the charter plane known as “Umeed-e-Pakistan.”
Prior to his departure, Nawaz Sharif made media statements at Dubai Airport, distinguishing himself and his party from the PTI chairman. He emphasized his role in detonating nuclear tests on May 28, 1998, during his tenure as prime minister, while distancing himself from the attacks on military installations on May 9, 2023, which led to public violence and vandalism following the arrest of PTI Chairman Imran Khan.
Nawaz Sharif stated that he is returning home after receiving a ‘clean chit’ in all graft cases and expressed his concerns about the current state of the country. He lamented the decline of Pakistan since his departure in 2017, recalling a time when free medical treatment and job opportunities were more prevalent.
As Nawaz Sharif is set to arrive in Islamabad, the Civil Aviation Authority has released a special charter flight schedule. After landing in Islamabad, he will depart for Lahore’s Allama Iqbal International Airport. Nawaz Sharif held meetings with Pakistani businessmen and UAE officials in Dubai in preparation for his return.
His return has prompted PML-N workers from across Pakistan to converge on Lahore for a welcome-home rally at Minar-i-Pakistan. The PML-N has even organized two small aircraft to shower rose petals in Lahore as part of the celebrations.
Nawaz Sharif’s return comes after he secured protective bail in the Avenfield and Al-Azizia cases, allowing him to return until October 24. These cases stem from his previous conviction and sentencing in 2018. He is a prominent figure in Pakistan’s political landscape, known for his interactions with the military establishment and his role as a three-time prime minister.
His return is seen as a significant development in the lead-up to the already postponed January 2024 elections, with Sharif’s primary opponent, Imran Khan, currently in jail. Sharif’s arrival is expected to have a considerable impact on Pakistan’s political and economic landscape.
