Nawaz Sharif Returns Home
Former Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is set to return home after a four-year self-imposed exile, positioning himself for a political comeback ahead of the country’s upcoming elections. Pakistan is grappling with a series of complex challenges, including security, economic, and political crises, with the elections delayed to January 2024. Sharif’s primary rival, Imran Khan, is currently in jail.
Khawaja Muhammad Asif, a senior leader of Sharif’s Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) party, expressed optimism about Sharif’s return, suggesting it could benefit Pakistan’s economy and its people.
Sharif has been residing in Dubai for the past several days and plans to fly to Islamabad, and then to Lahore, where his supporters will gather for a welcome home rally. The PML-N hopes that Sharif’s return will boost the party’s popularity, given his political influence and grassroots appeal.
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However, Sharif faces legal challenges, including a conviction for corruption and an unfinished prison sentence. The Islamabad High Court granted him protective bail until Tuesday, averting immediate arrest upon his return.
Sharif, who has served as Pakistan’s prime minister three times, was ousted in 2017 and disqualified from politics for life due to corruption convictions. He spent less than a year in prison before obtaining permission to seek medical care in the United Kingdom and defying court orders to return during Imran Khan’s government. His political fortunes improved when his brother, Shehbaz Sharif, came to power and introduced legal changes, reducing the disqualification of lawmakers from contesting elections to five years.
Analysts suggest that Sharif’s return may have been facilitated by a deal between the military establishment and his party to avoid significant legal obstacles. The military has historically played a crucial role in Pakistani politics.
Sharif, often recognized for his distinctive red Gucci scarf, has a history of fluctuating political fortunes based on his relationship with the powerful military establishment, which wields significant influence in Pakistan.
Despite his popularity in the eastern province of Punjab, Sharif faces the challenge of appealing to an electorate tired of dynastic politics and a younger population drawn to Imran Khan’s tech-savvy party. His key tasks include establishing himself and his party as credible alternatives to Imran Khan and addressing Pakistan’s economic challenges.
