In a much-anticipated homecoming speech before thousands of cheering supporters at a ‘triumphalist’ rally in the nation’s political capital of LAHORE, former prime minister Nawaz Sharif declared he had “no wish for revenge,” pledging to help the nation thread a potentially “rough course” back to the “lost glory.”
At a big gathering in which he declared his return to frontline politics after being absent from the corridors of power since his dismissal in 2017, the PML-N supremo hinted that his four-decade political career might not be done just yet. However, political turmoil, the imprisonment of his popular arch-rival Imran Khan, and the declining fortunes of his party cast a pall on his long-awaited return to Pakistan’s political firmament.
He proclaimed, “We need to start a new journey,” stressing the significance of cooperation amongst all parties involved.
Although the “Lion of Punjab” seemed to be taking steps toward reconciliation by saying things like “let’s put this behind us,” he actually struck a more sympathetic chord with his city, which observers said had largely fallen into the lap of his imprisoned rival Imran Khan.
It takes time for certain scars to heal, but I have no desire for retribution. He told the throng, “Nawaz Sharif only wishes for the well-being of the people,” while sporting his trademark red scarf.
The 73-year-old senior politician bemoaned in a distinctively gravelly voice that his hopes for a successful country during his tenure lay in shreds due to his repeated removals from office.
A toned-down version of a question he raised in his post-removal comments resurfaced when the former prime minister asked, “Are our governments toppled and rulings are issued against us [for refusing the US and taking a stance for the interest of Pakistan]?”
However, observers noticed that while the former premier clearly signaled his willingness for reconciliation and avoided referencing establishment, a succession of cryptic undertones to his ‘unhealed wounds’ and ordeals from the past continued seeping into his address.
“So, who exactly cut Nawaz Sharif off from his country?” We are the ones who established Pakistan,” he proclaimed.
Quote: “Ghalib hamen na chhed ke phir josh-e-ashk se/ baithe hain ham tahayya-e-tufan kiye hue.” (Ghalib, do not torment us with the deluge of tears;) we sit here ready to face the storms.
Lahore’s Finery
The PML-N spent weeks planning the elaborate power show. The city was decked out in party flags and large posters of the fugitive leader Nawaz Sharif was evident from nearly every vantage point.
A’messianic’ end to all problems was promised in party songs that blasted from massive speakers as fans waved party flags.
His entrance was heralded by fireworks, while the monumental Minar-i-Pakistan, illuminated up in green, served as the event’s backdrop. Before leaving the nation in 2019, he arrived in a chartered plane at the Islamabad airport, where he signed and submitted appeals of the convictions for which he had been imprisoned.
The senior Sharif led Maghreb prayer in the Lahore Fort, followed by his brother Shehbaz, Ishaq Dar, and other party leaders.
Nawaz embraced his daughter Maryam Nawaz and other party officials as his emotions began to show.
Even though we haven’t seen one other in a long time, my feelings for you haven’t changed. He started his speech by saying, “You have never betrayed me and I have never betrayed you.”
His apparent jab at the PTI leader, whose reelection campaign had targeted military generals and the judiciary, was delivered in the context of a speech about the need to tame runaway inflation and for national unity.
Nawaz claimed he would never turn on his followers or be unwilling to make sacrifices.
He described how he and other party officials had fabricated evidence against them.
However, “the PML-N flag was never abandoned.”
Nawaz talks about his own losses.
The former premier spoke movingly about his late parents and wife, recalling the pain of learning of his wife’s death behind bars and being unable to comfort his distraught children.
It was “to politics” that he attributed the deaths of his wife and mother.
The ex-prime minister recounted that the prison administration had repeatedly denied his requests to allow him to make a phone call.
“My number two man came to tell me that my wife had passed away after two and a half hours,” he stated, adding that he had prevented them from telling Maryam the news.
Imagine what she must have gone through to get to this point […] this is our own country, I am a true Pakistani, the love for Pakistan is in my bosom.
Nawaz continued by discussing the difficulties he had in making Pakistan a nuclear state.
He claimed that in 1999, Clinton offered him $5 billion, and that there was proof of this offer at the Foreign Office.
He said, “I am born from the land of Pakistan and this did not give me permission to accept what is against Pakistan’s favor,” implying that he could have been handed $1 billion instead.
Can you imagine if someone else had been in my position saying this to the American president? You know who I’m talking about. So, are we going to be reprimanded for this? I asked him, “Are verdicts announced against us because of this?”
He said that he faithfully served his nation and that he always took advantage of opportunities to solve Pakistan’s problems, regardless of the personal cost.
The “false” cases against him, Shehbaz, Maryam, and other PML-N leaders were unfortunate, though.Nawaz then made an analogy between the inflationary price increases of roti (bread) and gasoline under his presidency and the current situation.
Was this the reason I was fired? Exactly what is this choice? You, the public, have to answer the question, “Do you support this decision?”
He said that if Pakistan had followed his economic plan from 1990, the country would now be free of unemployment, poverty, and people worrying about how to feed their families or pay their energy bills.
The PML-N’s story was questioned, he said.
“Ask the Orange Line, ask the Green Line, ask the motorway, ask our story about the atomic bombing of Chagai, ask our story about the value of the dollar, ask our story about our ethics,” they said.
Apologizes for the PDM
The elder Sharif used the occasion to defend his brother’s 16-month tenure, claiming that these problems had began long before their governance, in an apparent attempt to absolve the PDM government led by Shehbaz Sharif of the terrible performance.
He brandished what he said were electricity bills from May 2016 and August 2022, to emphasize the exponential price hike.
Was Shehbaz Sharif responsible for this? I am not defending him; rather, I am providing information.
I’ve brought electrical invoices from May of 2016, when I was prime minister and there were sit-ins but we were still productively working.
targeted Imran
Nawaz promised to be courteous and refrain from attacking his political competitor, Imran Khan. But he kept referring to the PTI leader without ever calling him out by name.
Who planned the sit-ins, you ask? […] But we made sure that energy kept flowing to your homes even throughout the sit-ins,” Nawaz stated in reference to protests that occurred during his presidency.
Reference was made to Imran Khan’s display of prayer beads in public, and he responded that he, too, carried prayer beads but didn’t feel the need to display them.
Location of Maryam
Maryam Nawaz had earlier gathered the faithful at Minar-i-Pakistan in preparation for her husband’s arrival. She then told the crowd that people had assembled at Minar-i-Pakistan from all around Pakistan.
She also said that she wouldn’t be speaking because Nawaz would be doing all of the talking.
She urged Nawaz’s followers to give him a historic welcome, saying, “I thought Minar-i-Pakistan was a huge venue, but I didn’t know it would turn out to be small for the PML-N supporters.”
Lahore’s streets, according to former Punjab chief minister Hamza Shehbaz.
“Welcome to 2018 Pakistan,” he declared.
‘Pakistan’s Chief Architect’
PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif had earlier addressed the rally, and he mentioned that Nawaz felt sad that he was always removed from power whenever he attempted to alter the course of events for the people.
He claimed that every time Nawaz tried to alter Pakistan’s course, he was removed from power.
He went on to say that May 9th-like events were impossible while PML-N president Nawaz was in charge, recalling how Nawaz patiently dealt with setback after setback.
To put it another way: “He has returned to heal the wounds of the nation.”
It’s worth noting that Nawaz’s party has been trumpeting his homecoming for months in the hopes that his political clout and “man of the soil” swagger could resuscitate its waning popularity.
Three times he’s been prime minister, but he’s never lasted the full term.
After being convicted of corruption in a case he claims was politically motivated, he was forced out of office in 2017 and banned from politics for life.
It took a few months, but eventually Nawaz was granted permission to travel to Britain for medical treatment.
It’s widely assumed that he’s been running his party from a plush London mansion.
Imran’s luck changed once he had a public spat with the higher-ups. Imran was subsequently incarcerated for multiple offenses he claimed were politically motivated attempts to prevent him from running for office.
While speaking to the media in Dubai, the leader of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) said his party was prepared to participate in the upcoming general election but that the delimitation of constituencies had still to be completed.
After the census, he continued, a proper procedure must be followed, and that would take some time.
Nawaz claimed that the Election Commission of Pakistan knew everything and would make a “better decision” based on that information.
For such matters, the Election Commission should be consulted. What the ECP will announce in terms of elections is my top choice,” he said.
A chartered plane brought Nawaz to the nation’s capital later.
PML-N Senate leader Ishaq Dar and other party leaders greeted the former prime minister.
Nawaz signed a petition to reinstate appeals of convictions in the Avenfield and Al-Azizia cases after speaking with his legal team. He also took care of the obligatory biometric registration.
The PML-N leader later flew to Lahore, where he was met by his brother Shehbaz and other top party officials. He then took a helicopter to the rally location.
