Ex-PM likely to fly back to London

Sources say if, however, Kulsoom Nawaz's reports turn out to be positive, he would stay in Lahore

LAHORE: Nawaz Sharif might proceed to London this week to see his ailing wife, sources said on Tuesday, as the former prime minister reached Lahore after his maiden appearance before the accountability court in Islamabad to face the three graft references.

Sources told The Express Tribune that Sharif might leave for London within a few days but added that his sojourn would depend on Begum Kalsum Nawaz’s medical reports, following her cancer treatment there. If the reports turn out to be positive, he would stay in Lahore, they said.



Sharif flew into Lahore from Islamabad. From the airport he went to his Jati Umra residence in a large convoy amid tight security. According to the Punjab government announcement, Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who is also in London on a private visit, would return today (Wednesday).

Nawaz returned to Pakistan on Monday after spending more than three weeks in London and went straight into several consultation sessions with party leaders about his future plans.

An accountability court in Islamabad allowed former premier Nawaz Sharif to leave after he briefly appeared before the court on Tuesday for hearing of references filed against him by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB).

A number of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leaders, including federal ministers, accompanied the former prime minister, for his first appearance before the accountability court, which had summoned him after his failure to appear at an earlier hearing on September 19.