Nawaz, Maryam return amid speculations

Questions arise over trip's purpose, timing during Punjab's smog crisis

LAHORE:

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz and her father, former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, have flown back to Pakistan, wrapping up an extended foreign tour as the purpose of the trip remains cloaked in mystery.

Nawaz Sharif, who travelled two weeks before his daughter, also visited Dubai and the United States during his trip.

The duo stirred controversy online after a video surfaced showing them strolling down a Swiss street accompanied by the chief secretary Punjab, contradicting the government's earlier narrative.

Before Maryam's departure, the government had cited a relapse of her thyroid gland issue as the reason for the urgent trip. The narrative further unravelled when a photo emerged of the chief minister walking alongside Senior Minister for Climate Change Marriyum Aurangzeb, who was seen carrying several bags, presumably belonging to her.

Critics questioned the presence of key provincial officials, particularly during a time when Punjab was grappling with a severe smog crisis, casting doubt over the official explanation.

Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif left Pakistan on October 25, while CM Maryam Nawaz followed on November 7. The government initially stated that Maryam would return by November 12, while Nawaz's stay was expected to last around two weeks.

During the trip, discussions about PML-N's consideration of either purchasing a national flag carrier or launching its own airline sparked further controversy.

Nawaz confirmed that the Punjab government was deliberating the matter, but backlash on social media prompted senior ministers to issue denials, attempting to reinterpret Nawaz's statement.

However, Maryam, while in London, acknowledged that the plan was indeed under consideration, contradicting her own government.