Nawaz Sharif's Return to Pakistan to Serve Prison Sentence

Muhammad Nawaz Sharif, the ousted Prime Minister of Pakistan who has been sentenced to prison in absentia by a court in the country, is set to return from London to Pakistan on Friday, July 13. According to the law, Nawaz Sharif will be arrested immediately upon his arrival in Pakistan. Ahead of his return, police have deployed 10,000 personnel in Lahore, the city where he is expected to land. Supporters of Nawaz Sharif have announced plans to march towards the airport. The Pakistani government has banned any gatherings in the city. Last week, the National Accountability Court of Pakistan sentenced Nawaz Sharif to ten years in prison for corruption related to the purchase of luxury homes in London. The court also sentenced his daughter, Maryam Nawaz, to seven years in prison and disqualified her from participating in the upcoming general elections. The general elections in Pakistan are scheduled for July 25. Nawaz Sharif is currently in London with his family, as his wife, Kulsoom Nawaz, is ill and undergoing cancer treatment. Local media report that police will arrest Nawaz Sharif and his daughter upon their arrival in Lahore and transfer them by helicopter to Islamabad, the capital of Pakistan. Reuters notes that the return of Nawaz Sharif and his daughter could impact the general elections in the country. According to polls, Imran Khan, the rival of Nawaz Sharif's party and a prominent opposition figure running on an anti-corruption platform, is in a better position. Nawaz Sharif has served as Prime Minister three times. However, the Supreme Court of Pakistan disqualified him last summer over financial charges related to money laundering and corruption. That winter, the court also announced that Nawaz Sharif was banned from political activity.