PML-N supporters to welcome Sharifs ‘in large number’

Maryam announces they will address workers; authorities planning to arrest Sharifs inside the airport

ISLAMABAD:  

In what comes as an indication of open confrontation with state institutions, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leadership has announced they will defy all the restrictions and reach the Lahore airport to welcome former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and his daughter, Maryam Nawaz.

Maryam has also announced to address the party workers after landing in Lahore on July 13 regardless of repercussions. Reports suggest that the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has decided to arrest the duo at the airport and immediately shift them to Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi via helicopter.

A well-placed  official source who once served at the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) told The Express Tribune that the former premier and his daughter, who were convicted by an accountability court on July 6 in Avenfield apartments case, can be arrested ‘anywhere at the airport’ after landing.



“It all depends on the planning of authorities. Sometime, they deem it suitable to arrest a convict inside the aircraft immediately after landing or at the runway; sometime at the airport’s lounge or in the parking area or any related venue.

“But in this case, considering sensitivity of the matter, I think the suitable option for the authorities is to arrest the Sharifs in the aircraft once it lands at the airport or immediately after they get out of the plane,” he said.

Official sources said the NAB, with the support of law enforcement apparatus in Punjab and federal agencies, has mapped out a plan not to let the Sharifs reach out to the party activists and put strict security checks to keep general public away from reaching the airport to avoid any untoward situation.

“If they [Sharif and Maryam] were allowed to interact with their supporters, there would be a lot of drama that could lead to confrontation and security situation, which needs to be avoided,” said a government functionary in Punjab, while requesting anonymity.

Talking to journalist in London on Tuesday, Maryam said they, upon their arrival in Lahore, the PML-N’s political bastion, would go out of the airport and interact with the public and also address them.



“We are not going to run away and are going to Pakistan to surrender.  This is not 80s or 90s, you cannot control public. You shouldn’t do anything for which you have to give explanations later,” she said.

She said the party activists would welcome the leadership at the Lahore airport. She said her and father’s names were put on Exit Control List (ECL) to prevent them from landing back home.

In Lahore, the PML-N leader Marriyum Aurangzeb said workers would show up at the Lahore airport in huge numbers to welcome the former PM and his daughter. She alleged that attacks at Sharif’s residence in London were ‘planted’ by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf. Reports claim that Sharif’s mother has also announced to welcome her son at the airport and to “go to jail with my son if he is arrested.”

According to the schedule issued by PML-N, the Sharifs would arrive at Abu Dhabi from London on July 12 and leave for Lahore on July 13. They would land at Lahore airport at 6:15 pm on Friday.

Earlier, the Sharifs were scheduled to land at Islamabad airport but on Sunday they announced to land in Lahore – a decision, sources said, which was prompted by a fear of lack of public response in Islamabad.

On account of serious differences among senior PML-N leaders in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the party is not hopeful that party members and public would show up at Islamabad airport in significant numbers.

The former ruling party is also seeking support of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan governments to exhaust their resources to ensure that public show up in Lahore to welcome the Sharifs.

“There is a lot of tension,” said a source privy to the matter while referring to concerns in PML-N camps regarding mobilising public support for the July 13 event. He said PML-N’s leadership in Punjab is already facing problems involving general election preparations, internal differences and related issues.

The PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif has assigned his son, Hamza Shehbaz, the task to manage the public mobilisation campaign to welcome the Sharifs in Lahore. However, senior PML-N leaders are reluctant to be led by Hamza, according to sources.