Events leading to the exile and return of Pakistan's Nawaz Sharif

 Events leading to the exile and return of Pakistan's Nawaz Sharif

Nawaz Sharif is a Pakistani politician who served as the 13th Prime Minister of Pakistan from 1990 to 1993 and again from 1997 to 1999 and from 2013 to 2017. He is the leader of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), the second-largest party in the National Assembly of Pakistan.

In 2017, Sharif was removed from office by the Supreme Court of Pakistan in the Panama Papers case, which alleged that he and his family had acquired wealth through illegal means. Sharif was subsequently convicted of corruption and sentenced to ten years in prison.

In 2019, Sharif was granted bail on medical grounds and allowed to travel to London for treatment. He has remained in London ever since, while his party has continued to challenge the corruption charges against him.

In 2023, Sharif announced that he would be returning to Pakistan in October to lead his party's campaign in the general election. His return has been met with mixed reactions, with some supporters welcoming him back and others expressing concerns about his health and the potential for violence.

Events leading to the exile of Nawaz Sharif

The events leading to the exile of Nawaz Sharif began in 2016, when the Panama Papers were leaked to the media. The Panama Papers were a collection of 11.5 million financial documents that revealed the hidden offshore wealth of wealthy individuals and businesses around the world.

One of the people named in the Panama Papers was Nawaz Sharif's son, Hussain Nawaz. The documents showed that Hussain Nawaz owned offshore companies that were used to purchase luxury properties in London.

Nawaz Sharif denied any wrongdoing, but the Panama Papers scandal led to widespread public anger and calls for his resignation. In 2017, the Supreme Court of Pakistan ordered an investigation into the Panama Papers allegations.

In July 2017, the Supreme Court disqualified Sharif from holding public office for life. The court found that Sharif had been dishonest for not disclosing income from a company owned by his son. Sharif resigned from office the same day.

Exile of Nawaz Sharif

After being disqualified from holding public office, Sharif was sentenced to ten years in prison in the Al-Azizia Mills corruption case. However, Sharif was granted bail on medical grounds and allowed to travel to London for treatment in November 2019.

Sharif has remained in London ever since, while his party has continued to challenge the corruption charges against him. In 2022, the Lahore High Court suspended Sharif's life disqualification, paving the way for his return to Pakistan.

Return of Nawaz Sharif

Nawaz Sharif announced in August 2023 that he would be returning to Pakistan in October to lead his party's campaign in the general election. His return has been met with mixed reactions, with some supporters welcoming him back and others expressing concerns about his health and the potential for violence.

Sharif's supporters see his return as a sign of his strength and commitment to Pakistan. They believe that he is the best person to lead the country out of its current economic and political crisis.

However, Sharif's critics argue that he is a corrupt politician who should not be allowed to hold public office. They also express concerns that his return could lead to violence and instability in the country.

It remains to be seen how Sharif's return will impact Pakistan. However, his return is undoubtedly a significant event in Pakistani politics.