ISLAMABAD: The ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) party has kicked off preparations to welcome its self-exiled supremo Nawaz Sharif, Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah said on Friday, adding the three-time former prime minister would return to Pakistan the day election schedule is announced to lead the party’s election campaign.
Sharif, who is the elder brother of sitting Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif, was restricted for life from holding any political office by Pakistan's top court in April 2018, followed by his conviction in a corruption case the same year. Sharif says the cases against him were politically motivated.
The three-time former premier left Pakistan for London in November 2019 after securing bail on medical grounds and has since not returned to the country, but often meets party leaders in the UK to share his input on party and national affairs.
Sanaullah, who is a senior figure in Sharif's PML-N party, told reporters on Friday that he would return to the country once a date for the next general election is announced. The next general election is scheduled to be held in the latter half of 2023.
"Today, we have started preparations to welcome Mian Nawaz Sharif," the interior minister said at a press conference in Lahore.
"Our workers from every union council will reach Lahore to welcome Nawaz Sharif. God willing, that welcome will also decide the election."
Responding to the UK's Daily Mail newspaper's apology to PM Shehbaz for its report on embezzlement of funds for earthquake victims, the minister criticized former premier Imran Khan and his aides and said they handed over "fabricated" documents to the British daily’s correspondent, David Rose.
The British newspaper said in its July 14 article that PM Shehbaz had embezzled funds provided by UK’s Department for International Development (DFID) for rehabilitation and reconstruction work after a devastating 2005 earthquake.
On Thursday, the British paper apologized to Shehbaz in response to a lawsuit filed by him against the tabloid in January 2020.
"Their correspondent, David Rose, was invited to Pakistan and Khan himself held a meeting with him and handed him fabricated documents," Sanaullah said.
"[Khan’s accountability czar] Shahzad Akbar formally facilitated his meetings with people in jail."
Sanaullah said the former government had "tricked" Rose into publishing the story against PM Shehbaz.