Upon returning to the country after four-year-long self-imposed exile in London, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif on Saturday ruled out any intention to take revenge from his political opponents for "never-healing wounds", saying that his party's aim is to bring the country out of the ongoing crises.
"I don't have the slightest wish for a revenge but all I wish is to see the no poverty or illetracy in the country," said the three-time prime minister, who is launching his political comeback at a rally attended by thousands of rapturous supporters ahead of elections due next year.
The "Lion of Punjab" flew from London and touched down briefly in Islamabad where he signed court papers, before flying on to Lahore and taking a helicopter to the Minar-e-Pakistan where fireworks marked his arrival.
As Pakistan faces overlapping security, economic and political crises ahead of polls already pushed back to January 2024, the former premier pledged to put the country on the path of progress, stressing that the "pillars of the state should work together".
"I am meeting you after a long time, but my love for you remains intact. You have never betrayed me and I have never betrayed you," he told the crowds, wearing his signature red scarf.
Nawaz said his spirits to serve the country have not died even after four years.
"We'll have to decide how to regain the lost status," the former premier said while vowing to resolve the country's issues.
Nawaz also hinted at mending the country's ties with India, saying that "we can't progress under conflict with the neighbours".
He said that Pakistan will have to move ahead "with grace and tactics" for the resolution of Kashmir issue.
Earlier, Nawaz began his speech that he was proud to see "loyalty in the eyes of people".
He said that he served the country with loyalty whenever he was given a chance, he resolved the issues of Pakistan and never hesitated from any sacrifice.
The former premier regretted the “false” cases against him, Shehbaz, Maryam, and other PML-N leaders.
The PML-N supremo recalled making Pakistan a nuclear power and “ending” load shedding in the country during his time as the prime minister.
"Do you remember those 18 hours of loadshedding? Who ended it?" he asked, noting that it was under his leadership that the power issue was resolved.
He then showed the bill as well, which has now skyrocketed due to the rupee-dollar parity and a rise in fuel prices.
The former premier stressed that "some wounds never heal", saying that the wealth of this life may go away and come back to you with the blessings of God but the loved ones who pass away never come back," he said while referring to the passing away of his mother and wife when he was facing the legal battles.
He said that these women won’t be there to receive him at his home like they did in the past.
He then recalled the time when he was given the news of his wife’s passing.
Sharing his ordeal in Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail, three-time former premier Nawaz said that Maryam lost consciousness when he told his daughter about the death of her mother.
The elder Sharif said: “I am a true Pakistani.”
Talking about Pakistan’s nuclear tests on May 28, 1998, the former premier said that then-United States president Bill Clinton and other world leaders had been pressuring and refraining him from the tests and offered $5 billion in this regard but he refused the offer and made Pakistan a nuclear state.
Without taking the name of deposed premier Imran Khan, the elder Sharif asked: "Could he have dared to refuse the US president?"
"Clinton had offered $5 billion to me in 1999 for not carrying out nuclear tests, but my conscience did not allow me to accept the thing which was against the interest of Pakistan,” he added.
He maintained that they conducted the nuclear tests and gave India a befitting response.
“Are our [PML-N] governments toppled down and rulings are issued against us [for refusing the US and taking stance for the interest of Pakistan]?,” said the PML-N supremo.
PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif said no one in Pakistani would be unemployed if his party was allowed to continue the "1990s momentum".
"I was ousted because I didn't allow the dollar rate to fluctuate," he said.
Nawaz lamented that due to the ongoing economic crisis, "one has to decide whether to pay electricity bills or take care of one's children". "People are committing suicide, and borrowing money to pay the bills."
"[During my tenure] the poor had enough financial resources to [at least] to seek healthcare and get himself treated."
"This didn't start in Shehbaz's tenure. it started way before that. The dollar was out of control, bills were going up, and rates of daily utilities and petrol were also surging."
"During our tenure sugar was 50 rupees per kilogram, today it is at 250."
"This is why you ousted Nawaz Sharif?" the former prime minister said while criticising his disqualification in 2017.
"Pakistan was on its way to becoming an Asian tiger, we were preparing to ensure Pakistan's inclusion in the G20."
"A lot of countries which were trailing us are now leading us. We have been left behind. Not only do we have to catch up with those countries but in fact have to surpass them."
Turning his guns towards arch-rival Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Nawaz slammed the sit-ins staged by the former ruling party.
"I am addressing any political gathering after a gap of six years as I faced cases for two years."
"I have come today with electricity bills from May 2016 during my tenure as PM when there were sit-ins but we were busy doing our work."
"You know who was orchestrating the sit-ins? [...] But we ensured the provision of electricity to your homes despite the sit-ins," Nawaz said while commenting on sit-ins during his tenure.
Moving on to skyrocketing inflation, the PML-N supremo said that roti was being sold for Rs4, sugar at Rs50 per kilogramme and petrol at Rs60 per litre in his tenure.
“US Dollar was at Rs104,” he said, adding that they did not let the local unit fall against the greenback.
He once again raised questions over his disqualification as prime minister and asked the participants if they agreed with the verdicts against him.
“I was ousted from the Prime Minister’s Office for not taking salary from my son,” he added.
The former premier claimed that there would have been no poverty and unemployment in the country if the work started in 1990 continued.
Nawaz condemns Israeli bombardment of Gaza
Commenting on the ongoing Israeli bombardment of Palestine, Nawaz said: "We condemn the barbarism, and brutalisation of Palestinians [...] May Allah help Palestine [Palestinian people]."
"We urge the world [powers] to ensure a [viable] solution of Palestine [issue]."
Earlier this week, the PML-N chief’s smooth return to the country was ensured after he secured relief from the Islamabad High Court and an accountability court, averting the threat of immediate arrest when he lands back in the country.
Nawaz has been prime minister three times but was ousted in 2017 and given a lifetime disqualification from politics after being convicted for not declaring a receivable salary.
He served less than a year of a seven-year sentence before getting permission to seek medical care in the United Kingdom, ignoring subsequent court orders to return during former prime minister Imran Khan's government.
His fortunes changed when his brother Shehbaz Sharif came to power last year and his government oversaw changes to the law, including limiting the disqualification of lawmakers from contesting elections to five years.
Fans call him "the Lion of Punjab", the eastern and most populous province where his support is strongest, and he is known to parade big cats at extravagant political events drumming up support.
While he cannot run again for election or hold public office because of his convictions, his legal team says he plans to appeal and his party says he aims to become prime minister for a fourth time.
Nawaz’s return comes at a time Pakistan is reeling from economic crisis including skyrocketing inflation which was exacerbated during the 16-month rule of his younger brother, Shehbaz Sharif, who led a coalition government after Khan's removal.
The immigration process of PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif has been completed following his arrival at the Islamabad airport.
Sources told Geo News that the immigration staff stamped on Sharif's passport for entry into Pakistan.
The party's leader got off the plane smiling and reached the airport's lounge earlier with former finance minister Ishaq Dar accompanying him all the while.
Meanwhile, the immigration process for all the other passengers and journalists will take place in Lahore.
Upon his return, the senior politician signed the petition to revive his appeals against the conviction in Avenfield and Al-Azizia references.
Nawaz also held a meeting with his legal team comprising Azam Nazeer Tarar, Ishaq Dar and Qazi Misba.
Soon before Nawaz Sharif’s plane landed in Islamabad, Maryam said that it was “biggest day “ of her life.
“The pain and suffering that Nawaz Sharif endured in the last 24 years are hardly comparable, and there are some wounds that will never heal, but the amount of times Nawaz Sharif has risen is probably not the same for anyone else,” Maryam said in a post on X.
Former prime minister Shehbaz Sharif also welcomed his elder brother's return to the country.
In a follow-up post on X, the PML-N president said that his leader will be among the people and is back to united the "nation, not to divide it further".
"He is coming back to spread love among his people, not hatred. He is coming back to help you become a productive citizen, not ammunition for any party or group. He is coming back to put Pakistan back on track," Shehbaz added.
As he led a caravan of workers in Faisalabad, PML-N leader Abid Sher Ali likened Nawaz Sharif's arrival in Pakistan to "Eid".
"Today is our Eid, as national prosperity is returning," he said.
The politician said the party supremo is the "hope of a bright future for Pakistan".
Speaking about the sea of workers awaiting to welcome their leader, the PML-N leader said: "There are more workers and less vehicles."
PML-N Information Secretary Marriyum Aurangzeb said today's gathering in Lahore to welcome Nawaz Sharif will be the largest in the history of Pakistan and the region.
The politician said the party's supremo will reach the rally at Minar-e-Pakistan in Lahore following his return from Islamabad, after which he will go to Jati Umra.
She also shared that PML-N Chief Organiser Maryam Nawaz and Vice President Hamza Shahbaz will reach the venue in Lahore at 3pm.
Speaking with journalists in Punjab's provincial capital, the PML-N leader said all of Pakistan is set to welcome Nawaz with a large number of women and youth marching towards Minar-e-Pakistan.
"Nawaz Sharif's arrival is the harbinger of the rise and new prosperity for Pakistan," Aurangzeb said, adding that there is no other leader like him in Pakistan.
The politician has advised those who create memes and fake news to take some rest today.
"Our opponents are also eyeing Nawaz Sharif's arrival today," she said, asking the "opponents" to join the PML-N in their celebration.
When speaking about her leader's return from exile after four years, the politician said: "Pakistan is going to write a new history."
It is pertinent to note that an accountability court sentenced the three-time prime minister in Avenfield and Al-Azizia Steel Mills references.
Appeal proceedings — for the petition challenging the sentence — were underway when Nawaz travelled abroad for medical treatment and didn't return to pursue the case.
The PML-N supremo — after he moved to Lahore High Court (LHC) instead of the IHC — was allowed to go abroad for four weeks after his brother and party president Shehbaz Sharif submitted an undertaking in the court assuring Nawaz's return once his health improves.
The IHC — in the absence of the PML-N supremo — threw out the appeals on account of "non-prosecution" instead of adjourning the proceedings for an indefinite period.
The court, while declaring Nawaz as a proclaimed offender, noted that the appeals were rejected on technical grounds and not on the merits of the arguments.
The applicant can once again file an appeal against the sentence upon his return, the court added.
Earlier this week, the IHC granted him protective bail in the graft cases till October 24 to allow him to surrender before the court.
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