Nawaz Sharif returns to Pakistan after 4 Years

Former prime minister of Pakistan, Nawaz Sharif has returned to the country after being in self-exile for nearly four years.

Nawaz spent a large amount of time in London but the decision was not received well as residents of Pakistan urged him to return and answer to the charges against him.

The ex-prime minister has served three times but was dismissed by the Supreme Court after allegations of corruption were made against him in 2017.

A year later, he was sentenced to seven years in prison due to the corruption charges, but Nawaz continued to deny the allegations.

The sentence was suspended due to medical reasons, and Nawaz was given permission to travel abroad for treatment and was ordered to return to Pakistan after four weeks.

However, Nawaz did not abide by the rules and he remained in London, angering Pakistani nationals.

According to airport officials, Nawaz Sharif returned to Islamabad airport on October 21, 2023. It is believed he will address a rally in Lahore later that evening.

Prior to his return, he received protective bail from an Islamabad court, which means he will not be arrested before his appearance in court.

His daughter, Maryam Nawaz took to X and said that her father’s return to Pakistan was a big day for her.

Maryam posted: “Today is probably the biggest day of my life. I am grateful to Allah Almighty.

“The pain and suffering that Nawaz Sharif has endured in the last 24 years are hardly comparable, and some wounds will never heal.

“But whatever rise Nawaz Sharif has seen is probably not the same for anyone else.

“Pakistan is going to see another rise of Nawaz Sharif today God willing! Welcome Nawaz Sharif!”

His younger brother Shehbaz Sharif welcomed Nawaz back to Pakistan.

Political analyst Ayesha Siddiqa said that Nawaz had a task ahead of him in which he needed to prove to the nation that he had their best interests at heart.

Ayesha said: “Sharif’s key challenge is first to establish himself and his party as viable options to replace Imran Khan who is already popular, and secondly to turn around the economy.”

Before his rally in Lahore, Nawaz Sharif had gathered at the Greater Iqbal Park where the event will take place in a controlled setting with over 7,000 policemen out in force.

Razi Ullah said he was at the park to welcome back his leader.

Razi commented: “I am here to welcome my leader. Inflation is very high and poor people are desperate.

“God has given him a chance to come back and turn things around. He has done it before.”

During a brief stay in Dubai, Nawaz spoke to media officials at the airport and admitted that he was nervous about his return.

He said: “I am going back to Pakistan after four years today.

“When I was leaving Pakistan and going abroad I had no feelings of happiness, but today I am happy.

“I get very worried and disappointed seeing the situation in the country.

“The country that had to move forward is going backwards now economically and unity-wise.”