THE KINGPIN’S RETURN
His Pakistan Muslim League ( PML – N ) party, whose leaders hope Sharif’s political clout and” man of the soil” swagger will revive its popularity dwindling amid an economic backslide, has been promoting his return for months.
Umar Sabir, 50, who traveled more than 250 kilometers to attend the rally, said,” I am a bad man, and I just expect one thing from Nawaz Sharif: That he brings down cpi.”
However, the former chief is facing a bone conviction and an unfulfilled prison sentence.
The Islamabad High Court granted Sharif safe bail earlier this week until Tuesday, removing the possibility of an immediate arrest when he returns to the nation.
Sharif served as prime minister three times before being removed from office in 2017 and given a life ban from politicians after being found guilty of fraud.
Before receiving permission to seek medical care in Britain, he served less than a month of his seven-year statement, disobeying following court directions to gain during the administration of former prime minister Imran Khan.
When his brother Shehbaz Sharif took office last year and his government oversaw legal changes, including a five-year ban on legislators from running for office, his wealth changed.
However, the alliance led by PML-N’s brief tenure also coincided with periods of escalating prices and a dollar reserve crisis that put the country on the verge of default.
LION OF PUNJAB
According to researcher Zahid Hussain, constitutional obstacles preventing Sharif from gaining strength are likely to be removed as part of a backroom agreement between his celebration and the army.
He told AFP,” There was some sort of arrangement with the defense creation, without which he doesn’t have decided to come back.”
Sharif, who frequently wears a purple Gucci scarf, has watched his political fortunes depend on his standing with Pakistan’s formidable military establishment, which serves as the real kingmaker of the nation.
Officials in Pakistan are frequently embroiled in legal battles that right watchdogs claim are being orchestrated by the government, which has directly ruled the nation for more than half of its history and continues to wield enormous strength.
Fans refer to him as” the Lion of Punjab ,” the easternmost and most populous province where his support is strongest. He is also known for leading large cat parades at opulent political gatherings to garner support.
However, he must overcome a younger populace that Khan’s cultural media-savvy party has captured as well as an electorate exhausted of dynastic politics.
According to social scientist Ayesha Siddiqa,” Sharif’s main challenge is first to identify himself and his celebration as viable options to change Imran Khan, who is already famous, and secondly to move around the market.”
In the run-up to elections, Pakistan is now being led by a caretaker government.