Self-exiled Nawaz Sharif returns home ahead of vote

Liaquat Ali

Islamabad: Pakistan’s thrice-elected former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif returned home this week on a chartered plane from Dubai, ending four years of self-imposed exile in London as he seeks to win the support of voters in parliamentary elections due in January.

Sharif failed to appear before a Pakistani court in 2019 following his conviction and sentencing of 10 years in prison on corruption charges. Then Prime Minister Imran Khan, allowed him to travel abroad to receive medical treatment after complaining of chest pains. Sharif later prolonged his stay in London, saying his doctors were not allowing him to travel.

Sharif said Pakistan’s economy and political situation both declined in recent years, according to multiple videos shared by his Pakistan Muslim League party on X.

But he added: “As I have said earlier, I leave everything to God.” He said he made more than 150 court appearances after his ouster in 2017.

Nawaz Sharif’s younger brother Shehbaz Sharif, whose tenure ended in August, failed to improve the economy, though he saved Pakistan from default. A caretaker government is currently in power and it will hold the vote in January.