Nawaz Sharif reaches Pakistan to face NAB cases

ISLAMABAD - Putting to rest all rumours by his rivals, deposed Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Monday landed at Islamabad airport after spending weeks in London, United Kingdom, with his ailing wife Kalsoom Nawaz.

Mr. Sharif used Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi's plane - PK-786 - to return to the country.

The accountability court has summoned Nawaz Sharif and his children and son-in-law to the court in the references filed by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB).

However, other family members including Hussain, Hassan, Maryam and her husband Captain Safdar did not return from London.

The decision of his return was made in a meeting with Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif who reached London the other day. The CM is expected to return to country sometime between September 28 to 30.

Confirming Sharif's return to the country, PML-N spokesman Mushahidullah Khan said that Nawaz Sharif is the most popular leader in the country.

"He is the leader of PML-N and the people of Pakistan and is returning to country to play this role," Mushahidullah said, adding that opponents' claims that Nawaz would now be working from London have proven wrong.

Talking to reporters before leaving for Pakistan at Heathrow Airport, Nawaz clarified that he went to London to visit his ailing wife.

Saying, "We did not commit corruption and receive kickbacks," he raised concerns regarding the decision of  the Supreme Court in Panamagate case.

He also questioned the handling of the case saying, "The judges, who had disqualified him, heard the review petitions and now supervising the cases at the accountability court".

PML-N bigwigs, including Senator Mushahidullah Khan, NA Speaker Ayaz Sadiq, Talal Chaudhry, Pervaiz Rashid, and others welcomed the former premier at the airport, from where he headed to Punjab House in Islamabad.

Media reports suggested the ousted PM will appear before the court before which their cases are fixed on September 26.

NAB has filed three references against Nawaz Sharif and his children, pertaining to which an accountability court summoned them on September 19. However, Sharifs failed to appear before the court.

At this, NAB moved the court to issue arrest warrants for the former prime minister, but the court rejected NAB's request and again issued summons for Sharifs to appear on 26 September.

Sharif will hold a high-level party meeting to decide on future strategy and establishing contacts with rest of the political parties.