Will Nawaz Sharif return to Pakistan?

The former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was last year allowed to leave for London for medical reasons after he was diagnosed with an immune system disorder.

He was convicted in a corruption reference and is nominated in multiple references filed by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB).

Doctors’ recommendations

Nawaz, who has been diagnosed with an immune system disorder, was recommended by doctors to go abroad as his condition continued to deteriorate despite treatment.

He was rushed to Services hospital from the Kot Lakhpat jail — where he was serving a prison sentence granted by an accountability court that found him guilty of corruption in the Al Azizia case — after Dr Khan raised an alarm over the former prime minister’s deteriorated health.

Nawaz was granted bail by the Islamabad High Court on humanitarian grounds, in the Al Azizia case.

He also obtained bail in the ongoing Chaudhry Sugar Mills case, in which he is a suspect, from the LHC.

Lahore High Court order

After much deliberation and meetings, the government had agreed to permit Nawaz to travel abroad, with the condition that indemnity bonds amounting to Rs7-7.5 billion be furnished.

The PML-N had rejected the condition and had taken the matter to the LHC, which — is a blow to the Centre — ordered the federal government to remove his name from the ECL without any conditions.

The verdict was issued after Nawaz signed a court-approved undertaking, saying that he would return to the country within four weeks.

Shehbaz too signed an undertaking, which stated he would ensure the return of his brother within four weeks or on certification by doctors that he has regained his health and is fit to return back to Pakistan.

Nawaz was allowed to leave the country for a period of four weeks, extendable on the basis of medical reports.

Nawaz Sharif travels to London

Former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif left for London on 19 November 2019, 20 days after he was released on bail from a seven-year sentence for corruption.

The PML-N supremo, who has been diagnosed with an immune system disorder, was accompanied by his brother Shehbaz Sharif and his personal physician Dr Adnan Khan.

The 70-year-old PML-N supremo, who got bail in two corruption cases was accompanied to the airport by a large number of supporters as well as party leaders.

The former premier’s mother, other family members and his daughter Maryam — who surrendered her passport to secure her release in the Chaudhry Sugar Mills case earlier this month — bid farewell to him at the house.

Sharif’s engagements in London 

Former Prime Minister Mian Nawaz Sharif arrived at Guys & Thomas Hospital in London for a medical check-up, where Hassan Nawaz and Hussain Nawaz, as well as Dr Adnan, were present. Blood, heart and kidney tests were done here.

Dr. Adnan said that Nawaz Sharif’s health is better now than before after reports will decide whether Nawaz Sharif must be transferred to the United States for treatment or not. 

Shahbaz Sharif said that Nawaz Sharif would also have more tests so that doctors could shed light on the reasons for further reduction in platelets.

A few days later, the personal physician of Nawaz said that it could take a few months for Nawaz Sharif to recover. 

Request for further stay

Meanwhile, former Prime Minister Mian Nawaz Sharif requested the Punjab government to allow him to stay in London further and the provincial government formed a four-member committee to consider the request.

It should be noted that Nawaz Sharif did not mention any specific period in the petition.

In the next few days, Nawaz Sharif reached London Bridge Hospital where he underwent further tests.

Doctors advised former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to be admitted to the hospital now. From November 19 to November 25, Nawaz Sharif went out of the house for medical examination three times. 

Fresh Nawaz photo sparks debate over his health

Fresh leaked picture of former PM Nawaz Sharif at a roadside cafe in London sparked a debate about his health.

In the picture, Sharif is seen sitting at a roadside eatery with his granddaughters. He is seen sporting a blue shalwar kameez and a cap.

As the picture went viral on social media, it sparked a debate about the former premier’s health with his detractors asking why he does not return to Pakistan if he is well and roaming on London streets, while his supporters expressed joy at seeing their leader in good health and spirits.

Seeking Nawaz’s return

The PTI government’s decision to approach the British authorities to seek the ‘extradition’ of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, who is in London these days for the treatment of a reportedly complicated ailment, cannot be defended on any grounds.

Many political observers were expecting the government to take such action, especially over the last few days since the Punjab cabinet turned down a request from the Sharif family to extend the ‘medical bail’ that had been granted to the ailing PML-N leader.

The provincial government tried to justify its decision, saying that the Sharif family had neither shared the “necessary medical reports and updates” with it nor admitted the former prime minister to a UK hospital for treatment for his illness.

Allowing Nawaz to leave was a ‘mistake’, PM

Prime Minister Imran Khan on August 28 said that allowing former premier Nawaz Sharif to leave the country was a “mistake” and that his government “regretted” the decision.

In an interview with a private News channel  PM Imran hinted that the government was pressurized into sending Nawaz abroad. He said that the reports presented to the government recommended that the Nawaz was severely ill.

Besides, the PM Khan said, the court had declared that the government would be responsible, should anything happen to Nawaz.

FATF blacklist

The PM also addressed the recent opposition move to block two bills regarding steps in compliance with the Financial Action Task Force.

He pointed out that the country was placed on the FATF grey list during PML-N’s tenure and the PTI government had introduced the bills in order to prevent the financial watchdog from placing Pakistan on its blacklist.

PM Khan said that the opposition wanted that the government takes out money laundering sections from the bills and have also proposed 34 amendments in the NAB Ordinance which essentially means to “dig a grave and bury NAB in it”.

Fake medical reports

Special Assistant to Prime Minister for Political Communication Shahbaz Gill on August 22 declared that the medical reports of the convicted former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif are fake.

He claimed that Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), a chemical, was used to show fewer platelets of Nawaz Sharif.

“Nawaz Sharif told a lie in this regard, sent his incomplete reports thrice and deceived the government,” he said.

Shahbaz Gill said that Nawaz Sharif’s walk-in London streets show that his health is sound. “Now we have to see who tampered with the medical reports of Nawaz Sharif.

Pakistan approaches the UK for the extradition of Nawaz

The Pakistan government has declared former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and approached the UK government for his extradition.

On August 23, Adviser to the Prime Minister on Accountability and Interior Shahzad Akbar said that Sharif’s four-week bail on medical grounds expired in December last year.

“The government is treating him (Sharif) as an absconder and has already sent a request to the British government to extradite him,” Akbar was quoted as saying by the Dawn News on Saturday.

Nawaz assures IHC of return on recovery

Former premier Nawaz Sharif on Monday assured the Islamabad High Court (IHC) that he would return to Pakistan as soon as he recuperates and maintained that due to the Covid-19 pandemic, his treatment in London had been subjected to delay.

The PML-N supremo filed an application in the IHC seeking exemption from appearance in the hearing of his appeal against his conviction in the Avenfield reference.

In the Al-Azizia reference, Sharif requested the court to adjourn the hearing of the case or carry out the proceedings in the presence of his representative.

The PML-N chief, in his application, seeking exemption from appearance in the hearing, adopted the stance that the matter regarding his departure for treatment abroad was already pending before the Lahore High Court.

He said the Punjab government despite being aware of this fact had neglected his medical reports and rejected his application for an extension in bail.

Assuring the IHC of his return to Pakistan after recuperation, Sharif noted that his treatment in London was delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic.

IHC orders Nawaz Sharif to surrender

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has ordered former premier Nawaz Sharif to surrender before the court in the Azizia reference on Tuesday.

Giving arguments during the hearing on Nawaz Sharif’s request for exemption from attendance, Khawaja Harris said that Nawaz Sharif is not in a position to come to Pakistan now.

Justice Amir Farooq remarked that we have two appeals of Nawaz Sharif pending, he was granted bail for a specified time and Nawaz must surrender before the court.

PM Khan directed use of all legal means

Prime Minister Imran Khan had directed the use of all legal means to bring former prime minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif back from the United Kingdom.

The prime minister that it was the responsibility of the government to bring back all those wanted by the courts. 

Imran said the PML-N did politics on Sharif’s health and the government won’t be blackmailed by the opposition.

According to PML-N Vice President and former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s daughter Maryam Nawaz, her father is anxious to return home.

The efforts of the government to bring back Nawaz are going on and there is no sign of Nawaz Sharif’s return. In such a situation, Maryam’s statement that Nawaz Sharif is anxious to return home is a question mark in itself.