Nawaz Sharif’s return to Lahore after a self-imposed exile of four years in London was marked by considerable attention and excitement. Prior to his arrival, he was granted bail in three cases, with the bail period extending until October 24th.
The first case in question was the Tosha Khana case, where he had not yet been formally indicted, but legal proceedings were underway. In contrast, the other two cases, namely the Avenfield case and the Al-Aziza case, had seen indictments against him.
In the Al-Aziza case, Nawaz Sharif had obtained bail to seek medical treatment abroad, but he failed to return as promised, a situation that would typically result in the immediate arrest of an ordinary citizen, followed by a subsequent bail application. However, in Nawaz Sharif’s case, these norms appeared not to apply.
While Sharif’s return carries significance for the democratic process, it raises significant concerns about the manner in which it occurred, hinting at a possible disregard for the rule of law. Such a situation could exacerbate polarization among the masses, especially considering that a significant portion of the public still remains supportive of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government, if public sentiments are any indication.
The rift between the military and PTI had deepened due to PTI’s confrontational approach, constant criticism of the army, the 9th May incident and involvement in cases such as the cypher case, which had a detrimental impact on the country’s diplomatic efforts. It was, in part, PTI’s own missteps that created an opening for Sharif to reenter the political landscape.
Sharif’s shift in focus from accountability to prioritizing economic recovery has led analysts to question whether he intends to delay elections to allow time for regaining popular support on the ground. This move underscores the evolving political landscape and the strategies being employed by various actors in Pakistani politics.
The writer is a lawyer, academic and political analyst. She has authored a book titled ‘A Comparative Analysis of Media & Media Laws in Pakistan.’ She can be contacted at: yasmeenali62@gmail.com and tweets at @yasmeen_9
