<\/p>\n
Deposed prime minister and proclaimed offender<\/a> Nawaz Sharif, who returned to Pakistan today after spending four years in self-imposed exile, has arrived at the Minar-i-Pakistan in Lahore where he will address a massive crowd of supporters.<\/p>\n A visibly emotional PML-N supremo embraced his daughter Maryam and greeted other party leaders on stage. Before his address, the national anthem was played followed by recitation of the Holy Quran.<\/p>\n The elder Sharif arrived in Islamabad in the afternoon, where he completed legal and biometric formalities. His chartered plane landed in the capital city with more than 150 people from his party and media organisations, the PML-N said.<\/p>\n Afterwards, Nawaz left for Lahore and reached his hometown a little after 5pm. He was welcomed by his younger brother Shehbaz Sharif and other party leaders at the airport.<\/p>\n He then offered Maghreb prayers at the Lahore Fort with Shehbaz, Ishaq Dar and other party leaders before making his way to the Minar-i-Pakistan.<\/p>\n Earlier, a visibly emotional Maryam Nawaz mobilised supporters at Minar-i-Pakistan. Her namesake, Marriyum Aurangzeb, could also be seen wiping tears from her face.<\/p>\n Addressing the rally, Maryam said people from across Pakistan had gathered at Minar-i-Pakistan today. \u201cI will not deliver a speech, only Nawaz Sharif will speak to you today.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI thought Minar-i-Pakistan was a huge venue, but I didn\u2019t know it would turn out to be small for PML-N supporters,\u201d she said, urging supporters to give Nawaz a historic welcome when he reached Minar-i-Pakistan.<\/p>\n Alongside Maryam, former Punjab chief minister Hamza Shehbaz described how streets in Lahore were packed with supporters. \u201cThis is the Pakistan of 2018,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Rallies from various regions of the country poured into Lahore today, a party spokesperson said. Heavy police contingents were deployed to guard the rally\u2019s venue, said police officer Ali Nasir Rizvi.<\/p>\n Upon arrival in the capital city in the afternoon, the PML-N supremo proceeded to the Islamabad airport\u2019s VIP lounge to sign legal documents and complete biometric formalities.<\/p>\n His chartered plane arrived in Islamabad with more than 150 people from his party and media organisations, the party and sources said.<\/p>\n Observers say the reason Nawaz arrived in Islamabad instead of Lahore is that his touchdown in the capital was necessary to make bail, earlier granted<\/a> by the Islamabad High Court on Oct 19.<\/p>\n Before boarding his flight, Nawaz said he was \u201chappy to return\u201d. He is likely to face a host of legal challenges before embarking on his election campaign to rev up his party\u2019s prospects in the lead-up to elections due in Jan next year.<\/p>\n Earlier, Dar clarified that Nawaz would directly arrive at the Minar-i-Pakistan upon landing in Lahore and address the rally.<\/p>\n \u201cOn a media channel, there is news that Mian Nawaz Sharif will first go to Jati Umra and will later go to Minar-i-Pakistan at 7pm. This news is not true,\u201d he said in a post on X (formerly Twitter).<\/p>\n Nawaz\u2019s party is rallying its base, urging supporters to converge on Minar-i-Pakistan in Lahore from around the country to greet their leader and showcase the undiminished popularity of the party, which has been declared \u2018irrelevant\u2019 by its rivals.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m going back to Pakistan after four years today,\u201d Nawaz said today while speaking to the media at Dubai Airport. \u201cWhen I was leaving Pakistan and going abroad I had no feeling of happiness but today I am happy.\u201d<\/p>\n The ousted premier said he wished the country was in a better state than it was in 2017.<\/p>\n \u201cI get very worried and disappointed seeing the situation in the country. The country that had to move forward is going backwards now economically and unity-wise.\u201d<\/p>\nLegal formalities at Islamabad airport<\/h2>\n
Nawaz says \u2018completely ready for elections\u2019<\/h2>\n