Shehbaz summoned back to London within 48 hours

Maryam Nawaz to also reach London today; PML-N leaders to consult on 'urgent matters'

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Shehbaz Sharif had to rush back to London merely 48 hours after he returned to Lahore, it was learnt on Thursday.

On August 21, the former prime minister had jetted off to the British capital, where his elder brother and three-time prime minister party supremo Nawaz Sharif has been living for the past four years following his conviction. He had returned to Pakistan on Tuesday after staying there for at least a month.

The news of Shehbaz’s return was shared last night by PML-N’s information secretary Marriyum Aurangzeb on social media platform X.

پاکستان مسلم لیگ (ن) کے صدر جناب شہباز شریف پارٹی قائد محمد نواز شریف کے بلانے پر اہم مشاورت کے لئے کل لندن روانہ ہوں گے جس کے بعد وہ جلد وطن واپس آئیں گے۔

— Marriyum Aurangzeb (@Marriyum_A) September 20, 2023

The party president's visit coincides with PML-N vice chairperson Maryam Nawaz's, whose visit was pre-scheduled.

According to sources, Shehbaz was called back to discuss urgent matters. The sources added that Maryam, during her visit, will discuss other important matters and brief the PML-N supremo on preparations being made for his return to the country.

Read Nawaz to galvanize party election drive

Nawaz's return

Last week, Shehbaz, while addressing a press conference in London, announced that his brother Nawaz will be returning to Pakistan on October 21.

The decision that the three-time former prime minister will head to Pakistan next month was taken by the party leadership after a detailed deliberation, Shehbaz said.

A statement by Shehbaz, shared by the PML-N on X, said that Nawaz will be given an exemplary welcome on his return to Pakistan

The statement came on the heels of repeated announcements as well as postponements regarding the PML-N supremo’s return.

In his short speech in London, the party president maintained that the whole country awaited Nawaz’s return, and that Pakistan as well as its economy would start progressing from the point where the former premier had left it in 2017.

Shehbaz observed that his elder brother was deprived of the premiership after he was convicted in a “false case through conspiracy”.