Shehbaz Sharif returns to Pakistan

LAHORE: Opposition leader Shehbaz Sharif returned to Pakistan early Sunday after spending seven weeks in London, Geo News reported.

Sharif, also the president of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), spent seven weeks in London for medical treatment and was later cleared to travel by his doctors.

The PML-N leader arrived via Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flight PK-758 at the Allama Iqbal International Airport whereupon he was greeted by a large number of party members and workers.

A day earlier, while leaving for Pakistan from London, Sharif had vowed to take legal action against those spreading baseless news regarding his return to the country.

The government had chosen the path of "cruelty and injustice", the PML-N president had told reporters at Heathrow airport, adding that all decisions pertaining to a future strategy would be made through consultation with opposition parties.

"Baseless news were spread about my return to country. I will take legal action against the ones spreading false news," he had said.

Sharif had noted that a consultation would be held with opposition parties during a National Assembly session on Monday. He added he was ready to face every action taken against him by the government.

Speaking about former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, the PML-N president had said his brother had a medical history and undergone operations as well. He accused the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) of adopting a cold attitude towards his brother, who has thrice been the premier.

Shehbaz Sharif was arrested in the Ashiana Housing case on October 5, 2018, and released on bail in February by the Lahore High Court. His name was also removed from the Exit Control List (ECL).

The PML-N president had left for London earlier in April to visit his grandchildren and to undergo a medical check-up, following which his doctors advised him not to travel.

'Swiftly roaming on the streets of London'

Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan, the Prime Minister's Special Assistant on Information, said Saturday Sharif had turned two weeks' relief given by the court into two months holiday.

In a series of tweets, Dr Awan expressed hope that the Opposition leader would face the cases against him.

“I hope Leader of Opposition in National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif will face cases and appear before the court regularly after return from London.

“Shehbaz Sharif had been spotted swiftly roaming on the streets of London and it did not seem that he had any health issue. I hope that now he will not go abroad and attend the courts regularly.”