Former prime minister of Pakistan Nawaz Sharif's expected return to Pakistan on Saturday has been slammed by two main opposition parties of the country. The opposition parties alleged that special arrangements have been for his arrival. Sharif is expected to return after four years of self-imposed exile in the United Kingdom after jumping bail in 2020. The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N)’s legal team is hopeful that the former Pakistan PM will not have to go to jail soon after his return as the Islamabad High Court on Thursday provided temporary relief to him by granting a protective bail in the Avenfield and Al-Azizia corruption cases until October 24.
An anti-corruption court also suspended his arrest warrant in the Toshakhana vehicles case, reported news agency PTI.
On Friday, Imran Khan-led Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf posted an old, undated video clip of Khan saying that till the time he (Sharif) is sure of winning, he will not let the elections happen. While posting the video, the said party used 'Certified_chor_ki_wapsi' (return of a certified thief).
In the clip, Khan predicted the expected course of action upon Sharif's return and said, “He (Sharif) will say, first get rid of Imran Khan anyhow, so that he is unable to fight an election. Because he does not know how to play a match with a neutral umpire. ... (So), he will say, the first thing is to remove Khan as he (Sharif) cannot fight Khan. Second, he (Sharif) will say, put an end to all my corruption cases. And third, the Election Commission is already his, so till the time he is sure of winning, he will not let the elections happen. But the problem is Pakistan is spiralling down.”
Prior to the release of this video, the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari slammed Sharif said, “The Constitution, election, and democracy were halted due to one person's return,” according to a media report, reported news agency PTI.
Bhutto also took a jibe at the PML-N, whose slogan was 'Vote ko izzat do (give respect to the sanctity of vote)'. Bilawal during a public rally in Karachi said, “Our previous allies will have to acknowledge that delaying elections will not 'give respect to vote', rather disrespect it".