LAHORE: Former prime minister and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Chief Nawaz Sharif will return to country in September, federal Minister Javed Latif revealed. Speaking to a press conference here alongside party’s spokesperson Azma Bukhari, Latif said that people of Pakistan are wishing for return of former prime minister.

He said that it was impossible to have a ‘level playing field’ in country’s political landscape, in his absence. Referring to Nawaz’s supporters as “doctors”, Latif said that “People are his doctors and doctors change their opinion with time”. PML-N leader also said that he wouldn’t allow party supremo to go behind bars after his return.

Latif allege that Nawaz was ousted from premiership on former Chief Justice of Pakistan Saqib Nisar’s orders. He also lambasted Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan, saying his “strings are still being pulled by some people”, adding that Khan would have stayed in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa if he hadn’t gotten support of those who facilitated his rise to power.

Nawaz was sentenced in 2018, to a total of 11 years of imprisonment and was issued Rs 1.3 billion fine in Al-Azizia Steel Mills and Avenfield properties references.

His sentence was suspended in 2019 by Lahore High Court on medical grounds and he was permitted to fly to London to seek treatment, after which he did not return.

Published in The Daily National Courier, August, 16 2022

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