Former three-time Prime Minister of Pakistan, Nawaz Sharif is scheduled to land at Islamabad International Airport on Friday. His return to Pakistan has been keenly watched by many, especially because he has managed to evade arrest thus far, despite a lingering jail term awaiting him back home. Trepidation and anticipation surround his return as it’s current implications for his political party and the forthcoming General Elections are anticipated to be crucial.
Sharif, back in November of 2019, was granted one-time permission to exit the country for medical treatment, on the basis that he would submit indemnity bonds worth over Rs 7.5 billion. The Lahore High Court eventually allowed him to travel abroad without adhering to the above condition. He was then serving a 7-year prison sentence for corruption in the Al Azizia reference. His 10-year prison sentence in the Avenfield case had been suspended in 2018 pending a final judgement. He now returns after an absence of four years.
Nawaz Sharif’s return coincides with a substantial shift in the prevailing political landscape. His biggest political adversary, Imran Khan, now finds himself on the other side of the bars. Khan’s party, Pakistan Tehreek e Insaf, has seen significant dismantling following the now infamous anti-establishment protests on May 9th that were a reaction to Khan’s arrest.
The timing of Sharif’s return is considered significant by many observers in the context of forthcoming General Elections and is alleged to have been designed in agreement with the present government’s 16-month rule. The caretaker setup is said to be entrenched in controversy over allegations of being installed by certain sections of the establishment to manage the upcoming elections and deny PTI a level footing. Current Prime Minister Kakar has voiced his amicable relationship with the establishment and underscored the military’s superior organizational capabilities.
The pressing question for many remains – will the Government arrest Nawaz Sharif after his return considering that he is not only convicted but also termed as an absconder by a High Court of the country? The Islamabad High Court has made an inclining move by granting protective bail until October 24th to Mr. Nawaz for his two convictions in Al Azizia and Avenfield.
The judgment passed in the Toshakhana case further concatenates the narrative. A perpetual non-bailable arrest warrant in the Toshakhana case was suspended by the Accountability Court the same morning. Thus, the possibility of Sharif’s arrest continues to loom ambiguously amidst these legal intricacies.
For further details, refer to the original dispatch from JURIST.