Nawaz Sharif’s return and incumbent government

Whether it was Nawaz Sharif, Benazir Bhutto (late) or General Pervez Musharraf remained power, Pakistani politicians especially opposition leaders used to stay in London for one reason or the other. Benazir Bhutto spent most of her time in exile in London. Likewise Nawaz Sharif and family departed for Saudi Arabia and then Britain after 1999 military quo.

Nawaz Sharif was sent to jail in the light of a court’s decision soon after the PTI government was formed in 2018. Upon being ill in the jail Nawaz was shifted to the Lahore’s Services Hospital. The statements both from the government and PML-N leaders sent an alert that the former prime minister’s life was in danger if he was not airlifted to outside Pakistan. A dedicated team of doctors and Punjab Health Minister Dr Yasmin Rasihd kept briefing media about the health condition of Nawaz on regular basis.

In November 2019, Nawaz was finally airlifted to London by younger brother Mian Shehbaz Sharif and Dr Adnan (Nawaz’s doctor) with the approval of Prime Minister Imran Khan. Shehbaz signed the guarantee papers that Nawaz would return to Pakistan after his treatment.

A new pandora box of allegations engulfed Pakistani politics soon after the departure of Nawaz. The government though failed to stop Nawaz from going abroad for treatment, but the sitting ministers began their political commentaries to “target illness” of Nawaz. PM Imran Khan was also seen declaring Nawaz a “liar and absconder” in his public meetings and media talks. Nawaz was alleged to have flown abroad with fictitious medical reports.

If Nawaz Sharif flew abroad while befooling the government of Sardar Usman Buzdar, the health minister and the entire government and health machinery, the prime minister should be held responsible for it. The government then vowed to bring the former prime minister and court absconder Nawaz Sharif back to the country. The letters written to the British government by the prime minister’s office for the purpose also proved a futile exercise.

Then another news came from London recently that the application of extension in visa of Nawaz had been rejected. Though his (Nawaz) visa was still declared legal, Nawaz moved an appeal against the decision of the British Home Office. According to British legal experts, the decision about the appeal could take up to two-year time. Nawaz Sharif will have an option to move to the London High Court if his appeal is rejected even by the Immigration Tribunal.

According to law and immigration experts, Nawaz is not bound to travel back home even after the refusal of his visa extension. The legal matters take even years to decide. The news of visa extension refusal has created a stir in the political circles of the country and it appears the government ministers and advisers have got another opportunity to grill Nawaz Sharif.

Federal Minister Fawad Ch commented that Nawaz had obtained visa while lying as he is not ill. He advised the PML-N stalwart to get temporary visa from the Pakistani embassy and face legal cases on his return. Nawaz’s free movement in London reflects “he is perfectly alright”. “Nawaz could face punishment even in the UK if he makes lies to get extension in his visa.”

According to state minister Farrukh Habib, Nawaz Sharif is now an absconder with the expired passport. He should come forward and face cases against him. “It’s shame on a former prime minister who is absconder. He should come back and face imprisonment.”

On the other hand, PML-N President Mian Shehbaz Sharif has said the ongoing politics on three-time premier of Pakistan is a senseless and inhuman attitude. An appeal has been filed keeping in view the legal requirements and that Nawaz could stay in London till the decision. It was the government’s decision to shift Nawaz to London as his treatment was not possible in Pakistan. He will return to Pakistan on his doctors’ advice.

If everyone recall, the same hue and cry was raised when Nawaz’s passport was cancelled by the federal government, but the matter died down as there is no agreement between Pakistan and the UK regarding exchange of prisoners. A joint draft was prepared for mutual exchange of prisoners later, but no consensus reached on its implementation.

Then premier Imran Khan had announced that he would demand the return of Nawaz Sharif to Pakistan during his visit to the UK and meeting with his counterpart. But no official invitation has been received so far by the PM’s office.

The politics of a politician is always in danger when he or she starts following the moves of opponents instead of own strategy. But Nawaz Sharif knows the situation very well. He understands well that his return is like a trump card that he would play on his own conditions rather his opponents’. The most suitable time for his (Nawaz) return is when atmosphere for elections will be ripe in Pakistan. Nawaz could achieve maximum political gains in the same time period and could settle matters with the establishment in a better way!