ISLAMABAD: Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif has finally made up his mind to return to the country on Monday morning; he would not only appear before the accountability court but is also ready to face any situation upon his arrival back home, Pakistan Today has learnt reliably.
Sharif, who had earlier decided to extend his stay in Britain till recovery of his ailing wife, has decided to immediately return, vetoing the advice by his daughter and likely political heiress Maryam Nawaz and his younger brother and Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who had both advised the former PM otherwise.
According to sources in the ruling party, Nawaz Sharif will be returning on early Monday morning through PIA flight PK-786 at around 7:45 am to land at Benazir Bhutto International Airport.
PML-N spokesman Mushahidullah Khan confirmed Sharif’s return, claiming that Nawaz Sharif is the leader of people of Pakistan. “He is returning to country to play his due role,” he said, adding that opponents’ claims that Nawaz would now be working from London have proven wrong.
It is pertinent to mention here that it was Mushahidullah Khan himself who two days back had told a private channel that there was nothing wrong in Nawaz Sharif controlling the party from London.
WHO MADE SHARIF CHANGE HIS MIND?
A well-placed source in the ruling party told Pakistan Today that Nawaz and his entire family had made up their minds not to return to the country, despite encouraging signs as the Senate passed a bill to help the ruling party reelect Nawaz Sharif as party head.
However, despite this development, the source said Sharif was reluctant to make a comeback soon, but a federal minister and the legal team of Sharif family played pivotal role in convincing senior him to return to the country and face the courts.
“A Lahore-based federal minister played a key role in convincing Sharif to come back and face the courts. Previously, Nawaz Sharif had taken his daughter’s advice to not return as well as abstaining from the court proceedings,” the source said.
It is pertinent to mention here that Maryam Nawaz, Shehbaz Sharif and others had convinced the former premier to stay in London and not to return to the country until and unless things settle down back home.
On September 19, Maryam Nawaz had gone public with her advice by using the social media site Twitter to advise her father not to appear before NAB court, which had issued summons for the Sharif family members to appear on September 25.
“He (Nawaz Sharif) should not. Must not. Should not be a part of political & personal victimisation in the garb of accountability. It’s a FARCE,” Maryam Nawaz had tweeted.
“The minister held a series of meetings with the legal team of Nawaz Sharif. The lawyers advised Nawaz Sharif should appear before the accountability court and fight the legal battle. Else, chances of his conviction would be imminent,” the source said.
The source said that since Nawaz Sharif and family were concerned about the chances of their arrest and being put in jails, the lead counsels also briefed the Sharifs that NAB court would not arrest them.
“Sharif was informed that there were no immediate chances of his arrest by NAB courts. Moreover, NAB courts lately have not arrested any senior politician. Just look at the case of former prime minister Yousaf Raza Gilani and his sons, who have not been arrested, despite enough material of their involvement in corruption,” the source added.
The source said that the minister also informed the former prime minister that it would be difficult for his party to go into next elections if the courts declare the party leaders as ‘absconders’—in case they don’t appear before the courts.
“Sharif has been advised that his presence in the country would also ensure a check on prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, who could be influenced against the party line. Moreover, the presence of Sharifs would help keep the party workers’ morale high,” the source said.
The source said that Sharif’s stay in London would also have a negative impact on the party’s electables, who might jump ship close to next elections.
“The minister also told his ousted leader that his continued stay abroad would damage him politically, and the party won’t be able to contest next polls with a high morale,” the source added.
DAR TO RETURN
The source said that Finance Minister Senator Ishaq Dar—who had been shaken due to the NAB cases and the reopening of Hudaibiya Papers Mill Case—would also return home along with Sharif.
“Dar, too, was concerned to return to the country in wake of the successive setbacks. However, he will also accompany Nawaz Sharif,” the source added.
The source further said that upon reaching the country, Sharif will hold a high-level party meeting to decide on the future strategy and establishing contacts with rest of the political parties.
NAB had filed three references against Nawaz Sharif and his children, pertaining to which an accountability court summoned them on September 19. However, Sharifs failed to appear before the court.
Sharif will appear before the accountability court on September 26, sources said, where he would present his stance on the references filed against him. They said the former premier will appear before the court without his lawyers and will represent himself in the case.
Meanwhile, another source in the ruling party said that Chief Minister Punjab Shehbaz Sharif held a meeting with Nawaz Sharif in London, but failed to convince the latter on his political strategy.
The source said that Shehbaz had reached London to discuss the future course with Nawaz Sharif with a complete plan of action in his pocket. However, the source added, the Punjab CM failed to convince his elder brother. Shehbaz was even unaware of Nawaz’s decision to return to Pakistan, the source concluded.
LAWYERS DIFFER ON LEGAL OPTIONS FOR SHARIFS
PML-N lawyers wing President Siddiq Awan has said there is nothing in the cases for Sharif family to worry; the family is simply summoned by the accountability court, which is a normal conduct of the court.
“Bailable or non bailable arrest warrants can only be issued if the Sharif family does not appear before the court,” he added, but he was sure that Sharif family will face the court, so there is no question of warrants.
He emphasised that former premier is an influential politician and a public figure so he will never be included in the ECL or arrested.
Regarding finance minister Ishaq Dar, he said that he should not resign as those are mere allegations against him, similar to Ayesha Gulalai blaming KP chief minister and PTI chief Imran Khan.
“Everyone should be deemed innocent until proven guilty by the courts,” he categorically concluded.
Advocate Faisal Chaudhry told Pakistan Today that “former premier will be welcomed with serious situation awaiting him.”
He was of the view that if Sharif family decides not to attend accountability court, the courts will issue bailable or non bailable arrest warrants against them.
“Ishaq Dar must resign from his position, and face the courts,” he added.
‘NAWAZ TO HEAD PML-N’
Meanwhile, National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq said he could not yet digest the Supreme Court’s verdict against Nawaz.
Addressing a news conference in Lahore, the NA speaker said the ex-PM would soon return to Pakistan and head the party.
“I do not agree with the SC’s verdict. I myself subconsciously call him prime minister,” he said pointing towards the objection raised by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan over Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi’s calling Nawaz as his premier.
He said Nawaz still held the party leadership, and, “after him, his brother Shehbaz Sharif was our leader.”
Back in July, a five-judge Supreme Court bench disqualified then PM Nawaz Sharif in a unanimous verdict in the Panamagate case, thus cutting short his third stint in power.
Soon after the SC judgement, the PM House issued a terse statement, saying that Nawaz Sharif, despite having reservations on the SC’s verdict, has stepped down from his post as the premier.
Sharif served as prime minister twice in the 1990s but failed to complete his tenure. In his second term he was ousted in October 1999 coup leading to a decade of exile. He won a third term as prime minister in 2013 general election.
Following his disqualification, he was also relinquished of his party head stature, however, later the Senate on Friday passed the Electoral Reforms Bill 2017 paving way for the former PM Nawaz Sharif to regain PML-N’s chairmanship.
Ayaz Sadiq also said former interior minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan was a senior PML-N leader and would remain so. “In a personal meeting, he told me that his party was PML-N and his leader was Nawaz, and the day Panama Leaks verdict was announced, Nisar stood by the party head,” he said.
To a query, he said investigation should be held right away on the flourishing of banners of Daesh in Islamabad.
“It is highly concerning to hear about terrorists in the country,” he said.
To another query, the NA speaker said if former president Pervez Musharraf knew about his predecessor Asif Zardari’s involvement in the former prime minister Benazir Bhutto’s murder case, why did he not reveal it when he was in power.
Additional reporting by Raja Faisal
