Knowing that their London to Lahore journey would end up in jail, the former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his daughter Maryam Nawaz are en route to Pakistan via Abu Dhabi.
After being convicted on July 6 in Avenfield Reference for 10 years imprisonment, undeterred Nawaz Sharif announced to return to Pakistan on July 13 to fulfil his mission of ensuring sanctity of vote in the Country.
Meanwhile, the duo’s flight Etihad Airways EY243 landed at the Abu Dhabi Airport on Friday morning, and wherein that would be staying for next few hours. They will land at Allama Iqbal International Airport in Lahore at 8:15 pm today.
Abu Dhabi airport. pic.twitter.com/CtUK3vCkMu
— Maryam Nawaz Sharif (@MaryamNSharif) July 13, 2018
In a video message recorded while being on board the flight, Nawaz Sharif said that “the Country is at a critical juncture right now. I have done what I could. I know I have been sentenced to 10 years and will be taken to the jail straight away. But I want the Pakistani Nation to know that I am doing this for you.”
نواز شریف نے اپنا فرض نبھا دیا۔ اب آپ کی باری ہے ! pic.twitter.com/TqG2evM0wn
— Maryam Nawaz Sharif (@MaryamNSharif) July 13, 2018
In the meantime, news arrived that a team of National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has reached Abu Dhabi to arrest Nawaz Sharif and Maryam Nawaz.
However, the Caretaker Information Minister Barrister Ali Zafar termed these reports baseless and contrary to the facts. He said that Pakistani officials don’t have an authority to arrest Nawaz Sharif and Maryam Nawaz in a foreign Country.
While in Pakistan, containers have been erected on various roads in Lahore and hundreds of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) workers have been apprehended as a crackdown continues ahead of duo arrival.
The President PML-N Shahbaz Sharif has vowed to give Nawaz Sharif and his daughter – who has also been convicted for seven-year imprisonment in Avenfield Reference – a rousing welcome on their return to Pakistan from London.
In a Press Conference, the PML-N leader Mushahid Hussain Syed said that “Let the people decide on July 25. We will go to the airport for reception of Nawaz Sharif.”
The PML-N leader Pervaiz Rasheed said that “Qamar-ul-Islam is arrested soon after he gets PML-N ticket. Why relaxation is not given to Qamar-ul-Islam as given to Asif Zardari and Faryal Talpur.”
Earlier Maryam Nawaz in her twitter account shared pictures of bidding adieu to her family, and wrote “Told my kids to be brave in the face of oppression. But kids will still be kids. Goodbyes are hard, even for the grownups.”
Told my kids to be brave in the face of oppression. But kids will still be kids. Goodbyes are hard, even for the grownups. pic.twitter.com/ge17Al5gfY
— Maryam Nawaz Sharif (@MaryamNSharif) July 12, 2018
LION HEART !!! pic.twitter.com/KFLb2B9VAo
— Suleman Sharif (@SulemanSharif82) July 12, 2018
بہادر باپ کی بہادر بیٹی اس قوم کے مستقبل ک جنگ لڑنے آرہی ہے #حاضر_وطن_کی_خاطر pic.twitter.com/LN6hnbPh2d
— ZM (@ZeshanMalick) July 12, 2018