Responding to rumours of Nawaz Sharif’s imminent return to Pakistan, Minister for Interior Sheikh Rasheed has said that he will grant the former prime minister a visa within 24 hours and even pay for his air ticket.
Rasheed added that Nawaz Sharif had “never visited a doctor,” despite ostensibly leaving the country for medical concerns. He reiterated that Prime Minister Imran Khan will continue to fight against corruption and act against ‘corrupt families like the Sharifs’.
Senior Pakistan Muslim League – N (PML-N) leader Rana Sanalluah remarked that the rumours swirling around Nawaz Sharif’s return have “sent alarm bells ringing” in Islamabad.
“The fear of Nawaz Sharif’s return is not letting him [Imran Khan] sleep,” he said. “Those responsible for causing a tsunami of inflation, incompetence, and corruption are screaming. They can do whatever they want, but they will eventually have to leave.”
Sharif has remained in self-exile in England since 2019. He was sentenced to 10 years in jail in 2018 for owning assets beyond the income he reported to the National Accountability Board (NAB).
PML-N President Shahbaz Sharif, also Nawaz Sharif’s brother, stated on Saturday that Nawaz will not return to Pakistan until he has made a full recovery. Furthermore, Shabaz indicated that Nawaz intended to stay in the UK until a decision is made on the appeal for his visa extension.
