It seems that PML-N’s plans for its supreme leader Nawaz Sharif’s return are now in jeopardy due to the ongoing political crises in Punjab. With things going against PML-N, Nawaz Sharif’s return seems unlikely.
In this regard, senior journalist Imran Riaz Khan said PML-N wanted to welcome Nawaz Sharif by mid-August with the help of the Punjab government which they wanted to be led by Hamza Shehbaz. However, the Supreme Court spoiled their plans.
“PML-N had made a program to land Nawaz Sharif at Lahore Airport in mid-August, for which they needed the resources of the Punjab government. A complete defeat in the by-election and a possible defeat in the Supreme Court spoiled the whole game,” Imran Riaz Khan tweeted.
ن لیگ نے اگست کے وسط میں نواز شریف کو لاہور ایئر پورٹ پر لینڈ کروانے کا پروگرام بنایا تھا جس کے لیے انہیں پنجاب حکومت کے وسائل درکار تھے۔ ضمنی الیکشن میں مکمل اور سپریم کورٹ میں ممکنہ شکست نے ساری گیم خراب کر دی۔ یہ اسی کا غصہ ہے۔
— Imran Khan (@ImranRiazKhan) July 25, 2022
To clarify, the outcome of the recent Punjab Chief Minister elections turned in favor of PML-N at the last moment due to PML-Q Chaudhry Shujaat’s letter directing his MPAs to support Hamza Shehbaz who had fewer votes than PTI and PML-Q candidate Parvez Elahi.
Read more: Supreme Court demands answers from Dost Mazari
The letter prompted Punjab Assembly Deputy speaker Dost Mazari to reject PML-Q MPAs’ votes altogether, resulting in PML-N candidate Hamza Shehbaz’s victory. However, Parvez Elahi filed a petition in the Supreme Court against Dost Mazari’s controversial ruling.
The Supreme Court said that the deputy speaker is answerable on what basis did he give the ruling. Moreover, it directed Hamza Shehbaz to work as a “trustee Chief Minister” until the SC announces its verdict.
The coalition government has demanded that a full bench hear the case. PML-N leader Maryam Nawaz even went as far as to harshly criticize the SC. According to the latest developments, the SC rejected the government’s demand for a full bench, resulting in coalition government to boycott SC proceedings.
The curious case of Nawaz Sharif’s return
Former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif left for London in 2019 on the basis of medical treatment. However, he has not returned since. On several occasions, PML-N has hinted at his return.
At first, it was announced by PML-N leaders that Nawaz Sharif will return if the no-confidence motion (NCM) against former Prime Minister Imran Khan succeeds – that was in March. The NCM was successful and PML-N came into power, however, no return of Nawaz Sharif yet.
Read more: Nawaz Sharif shares reasons for defeat in Punjab by polls
Then it was revealed that Nawaz Sharif will return after Eid. Political experts are of the view that Nawaz Sharif wanted PML-N to govern Punjab so that the Punjab government could facilitate his return.