At last Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has announced that its Supremo and former Prime Minister Mian Nawaz Sharif is expected to return to Pakistan on 21st October. But on arrival to the country he would have to face legal cases in the courts of law.
Nawaz Sharif had gone to the UK for medical treatment in November 2019 and has not returned to Pakistan since then. He has been facing various cases, including those in which he has already been sentenced.
The party sources said that it is preparing on two fronts, on one side they are preparing for his reception while on the other hand, pursuing legal avenues for possible relief for him from the courts.
While PML-N lawyers are hopeful that their leader will not face difficulties in dealing with the court cases, some other legal experts have the opinion that he can possibly go to jail before obtaining relief from the court upon his return.
After the announcement of his return, PML(N)’s Chief Organizer, Maryam Nawaz began the consultation with the lawyers and legal experts hailed from the party.
The most crucial aspect concerning Nawaz Sharif’s return is his sentences and other cases , which ae pending in the court. The senior leadership has taken the stance that Nawaz Sharif would return as a free citizen and obtain protective bail.
A senior leader of P ML(N) said in a TV talk show that legal teams are working to resolve Nawaz Sharif’s legal issues because he went abroad with the permission of the courts and the government. He will not be put behind bars upon his return because the cases against him are of a political nature.
Regarding Nawaz Sharif’s return, the legal experts explained that his return would not impact the NAB cases against him, as they were not affected by the court’s verdict in Maryam Nawaz’s case, whereas she was sentenced in the corruption cases, but the charges against Nawaz Sharif are different. The lawyers said that Nawaz Sharif could potentially request the courts for giving him relief upon his return to Pakistan
In the corruption cases, Nawaz Sharif was sentenced to seven and ten years in the Al-Azizia Steel Mills and Aven Field Apartments cases, respectively. The Supreme Court declared him ineligible to hold office in the Panama Papers case in July 2017 and removed him from the premiership, sentencing him to one year in jail.
In his case, Nawaz Sharif was accused of benefiting from the ownership of the Aven Field Apartments, and he was accused of having fake documents, while in the Al-Azizia Steel Mills case, he was accused of misusing his office.
Now the main question arises that the courts would maintain Nawaz Sharif’s imprisonment intact or treat him as a free citizen as he went abroad on medical grounds and after his treatment, he would have to complete his term.
Some people think that Nawaz Sharif is coming back to Pakistan after having a deal with the establishment , but the time to come will tell that he will return on a due date or prolong his stay in the UK.