Former Prime Minister of Pakistan Nawaz Sharif is set to spend the last days of Ramadan in Saudi Arabia, where he has been invited to perform Umrah by the Saudi ruler. According to sources, Sharif will be a royal guest in the country, prompting speculation about his return to Pakistan. The 70-year-old PML-N supremo had left for London in 2019, after being released on bail for medical reasons from a seven-year sentence for corruption in the Al Azizia case. He had been diagnosed with an immune system disorder and is currently facing another reference by the National Accountability Bureau.
Sharif’s visit to Saudi Arabia comes amidst an ongoing judicial crisis in Pakistan, and his daughter Maryam Nawaz is leading the campaign for the PML-N in the upcoming elections. The party is facing tough competition from the archrival PTI, and many party leaders believe that Sharif’s return to Pakistan would boost their campaign. The Imran Khan-led government had previously made attempts to bring Sharif back to the country to face corruption cases, and a plan was underway to sign an extradition treaty with the UK government, where Sharif was residing.
During his tenure as Prime Minister, Sharif had accused the army of ousting him from office in the Panama case and blamed former Chief Justice of Pakistan Man Sagib for giving a verdict against him to bring Imran Khan to power. Many PTI leaders have admitted in interviews that they have been unable to hold their archrivals accountable for their alleged corruption, which was a promise made to their voters before the 2018 elections. The situation remains fluid, with Sharif’s return to Pakistan being eagerly awaited by his supporters and opponents alike.
