A senior leader of PML(N) and former Speaker National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq has claimed on Thursday that Mian Nawaz Sharif would return to Pakistan soon. Earlier, on Tuesday, Vice President of the party Maryam Nawaz, while talking to newsmen in Islamabad, said her father was desperate to return to the country and he would do so soon.
The statements of the PML(N) leaders are seen, by some circles, in the context of a claim made by PPP Co-Chairperson Asif Ali Zardari that he was asked to give a formula for resolution of the current political situation. It was widely believed that his vague statement was aimed at conveying an impression that the PPP was going to assume significance in the next election or set-up, as part of the strategy to attract people towards the party. Similarly, some analysts claim that references are being made about the return of Nawaz Sharif to keep the morale of the party up. However, remarks of Advisor to Prime Minister on Accountability Shahzad Akbar that Kot Lakhpat Jail is anxiously waiting for Nawaz Sharif show that something is cooking up and the scary message is aimed at cautioning Nawaz against home coming. There are also plans by the Supreme Court Bar Association to challenge the lifetime disqualification under Article 2(1)(f) of the Constitution, a move outcome of which might influence the prospects of return of MNS to active politics. In any case, Nawaz Sharif will have to make a choice as and when the date for next elections is announced as his decision will have an impact on the electoral prospects of his party.
