On Friday, a medical report for PML-N leader Nawaz Sharif was presented to the Lahore High Court (LHC), indicating that the former Prime Minister still experiences “lingering chest pain.” Nawaz Sharif is set to return to Pakistan on October 21, almost four years after he departed for London in 2019 while serving a seven-year prison sentence on medical grounds. His brother and former Prime Minister, Shehbaz Sharif, had given an undertaking in court to regularly submit medical reports.
However, Nawaz has remained in self-imposed exile in London and has not returned to Pakistan. The medical report submitted on this day also stated that Nawaz would need frequent follow-up visits to medical specialists to monitor his condition. The report was submitted to the Registrar’s office by PML-N lawyer Amjad Pervez. It was prepared by a British physician and issued by the Royal Brompton Hospital, the largest specialist heart and lung medical center in the United Kingdom.
Despite speculations to the contrary, the party has dismissed suggestions that Nawaz Sharif might delay his planned return to Pakistan on October 21. Nevertheless, sources have indicated that a faction within the party, which follows a reconciliatory approach, had advised him that the timing might not be ideal for the return.
These sources revealed that the “party’s reconciliatory group” had conveyed their message to Nawaz. However, Nawaz Sharif did not immediately respond to the matter. This faction believed that the general public, currently concerned about rising inflation, unemployment, and high utility bills, may not be enthusiastic about the PML-N leader’s return under the current circumstances.
Nawaz’s younger brother, PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif, his daughter Maryam Nawaz, and his nephew Hamza Shehbaz initiated a public outreach campaign in Lahore to gauge public opinion. As a result, this group believed it might be unwise to anticipate a warm welcome for Nawaz from the public in the present situation.
Party sources mentioned that the date for the general elections had not yet been announced, and they suggested that it might be more appropriate for Nawaz to return to the country closer to the general elections or after the polling date had been confirmed. Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, a senior PML-N member, reportedly reiterated these points in a meeting with Nawaz in London. However, Nawaz remained steadfast in his decision to return and requested the party to prepare for his reception.
In contrast, another faction within the PML-N argued that postponing Nawaz’s return could create a negative perception among the public, and therefore, he should adhere to his decision to come back to the country.
PML-N Senator Irfan Siddiqui asserted that Nawaz’s return to Pakistan on October 21 was definitive, and there had been no change in the plan.
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