Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif’s return to Pakistan after four years of exile with his loyalists and party workers has created a sense of euphoria among PML-N workers. His tour de force from Islamabad to Lahore and his speech to a mammoth crowd bristling with optimism carry immense significance in a country long riven by political polarisation.
Mian Nawaz Sharif’s message of reconciliation with all political stakeholders, his focus on the restructuring of Pakistan’s economy, and his emphasis on improving relations with neighbouring countries speak of political astuteness and statesmanship.
Since the arrival of Mian Nawaz Sharif in Pakistan, the atmosphere of uncertainty surrounding the upcoming elections has cleared. The Pakistan Stock Exchange started showing signs of improvement ahead of his arrival. The Election Commission of Pakistan, acting on the directives of the Supreme Court announced 8 February as the date for the next election. The lifting of uncertainty has had a salubrious impact on the economy, further supported by the Staff Level Agreement reached with the IMF in mid-November. In the aftermath of these developments, the Pakistan Stock Exchange surpassed the 57,000 benchmark for the first time in its history. All these developments bode well for the country, which is finally emerging out of a dark phase.
Mian Nawaz Sharif’s message of reconciliation with all political stakeholders, his focus on the restructuring of Pakistan’s economy, and his emphasis on improving relations with neighbouring countries speak of political astuteness and statesmanship.
The PML-N faced significant challenges during its 16 months at the helm of the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) government. The party invested its political capital in addressing the aftermath of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s three and a half years of misgovernance, taking on the responsibility to rectify the mess left behind. However, the tough decisions made by the PDM, aimed at preventing the country from defaulting on its sovereign debts, have come at a considerable cost to PML-N. The government’s adherence to the IMF deal necessitated raising the cost of utilities, and the resulting impact was felt across various socioeconomic classes.
In this atmosphere, Mian Nawaz Sharif’s arrival has reminded the people of what the PML-N is truly capable of. His charisma, deep understanding of the business community’s needs and concerns, and track record of outstanding performance instil confidence among the people. His presence brings a substantial reserve of political capital, significantly enhancing the party’s prospects in elections.
In his address at Minar-e-Pakistan, his message to the people is clear: he wants a prosperous, democratic, and stable Pakistan, where every citizen could live with dignity and opportunity. He envisioned a Pakistan that is at peace with its neighbours, a leader in the global economy, and a beacon of democracy and human rights. He called on all Pakistanis to join him in building a brighter future for their country.
His presence brings a substantial reserve of political capital, significantly enhancing the party’s prospects in elections.
Expressing concern over the dire economic situation, rising inflation, unemployment, poverty, and a divisive political climate, he urged all Pakistanis to unite and work together for the common good. Outlining his vision for economic revival, Mian Nawaz Sharif proposed several measures to stimulate economic activity, including tax cuts, investment incentives, and infrastructure development. He also pledged to invest in education and training to create a skilled workforce that can meet the demands of the modern economy.
Mian Nawaz Sharif reaffirmed his commitment to upholding the rule of law and ensuring justice for all Pakistanis, regardless of their social status or political affiliation. He criticised the use of the judiciary for political purposes and pledged to restore the independence of the courts. He also called for an end to corruption and abuse of power, stating that these practices are undermining the rule of law and hindering Pakistan’s development.
Perhaps the most important point of his speech was the call for better relations with neighbours and a peaceful resolution of internal conflicts. Mian Nawaz Sharif called for dialogue and diplomacy as the means to resolve disputes, stating that violence only breeds further conflict and suffering. He expressed Pakistan’s commitment to peace and stability in the region, stating that Pakistan is committed to building strong and positive relations with all of its neighbours. He specifically mentioned the need for improved relations with India, Afghanistan, and Iran. This is as clearheaded as it could get because it highlights the need for Pakistan’s foreign policy to be realigned with its domestic priorities and concerns.
Mian Nawaz Sharif’s party and supporters would like to see him take oath as the next prime minister of Pakistan, but before that, he has to deal with the plethora of fabricated cases instituted against him to keep him out of politics.
Currently, there are two major cases against Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif pending in higher courts: the Al Azizia Steel Mills Case and the Avenfield Apartments Case. The Al Azizia Steel Mills Case serves as a glaring example of a miscarriage of justice. Despite the comprehensive presentation of the money trail associated with the steel mills to the accountability court, Mian Nawaz Sharif was nonetheless sentenced to seven years in prison and barred from holding public office for 10 years in December 2018 by Accountability Judge Arshad Malik.
However, soon it became clear that the accountability judge had been manipulated to issue the guilty verdict. Videos surfaced in which Judge Malik was shown confessing to his involvement in the controversial verdict under duress. In July 2019, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) removed Judge Arshad Malik from his position as an accountability court judge after the scandal made news headlines.
In August 2019, then Chief Justice Asif Saeed Khosa said in the judgment on a set of petitions regarding Judge Malik’s video leak scandal, “His admitted conduct emerging from that press release and the affidavit stinks and the stench of such stinking conduct has the tendency to bring bad name to the entire judiciary as an institution.” However, CJ Khosa did not vacate Judge Malik’s judgment in the Al Azizia Steel Mill Case. Judge Malik was dismissed from service in July 2020 by Lahore High Court’s disciplinary committee but Mian Nawaz Sharif still awaits justice in the case.
The Avenfield Apartments case has a similar story. In July 2018, an accountability court sentenced former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to 10 years in jail in the Avenfield Apartments Case and one year for not cooperating with NAB in this case. Nawaz Sharif’s daughter, Maryam Nawaz, was also sentenced to seven years in jail for abetment and was also given one year for not cooperating with NAB. Her spouse Capt (retd) Muhammad Safdar was sentenced to one year in prison as well for not cooperating with NAB, and aiding and abetting Nawaz and Maryam. Maryam Nawaz was also fined two million pounds. Following the verdict, the Sharif family was branded as corrupt by the media and their political opponents.
Using these cases, a highly derogatory media campaign was launched against the Sharif family on traditional, online, and social media channels to tarnish the Sharif family’s reputation. These cases were propped up to malign a powerful democratic force and favour the right-wing populism represented by PTI. The media, particularly current affairs anchors, regularly deployed news frames which indicted the traditional political class for poor governance and disregard for national interests while painting PTI as the saviour.
Despite the media trail of the Sharif family, the Avenfield Apartments case was so weak that it could not withstand the scrutiny of the Islamabad High Court (IHC), which set aside the conviction of Maryam Nawaz and her spouse Capt (retd) Mohammad Safdar in September 2022. The NAB prosecutor was unable to substantiate the claim that Maryam Nawaz was the beneficial owner of the Avenfield Apartments situated in London. The court also noted that there was no mention of Mian Nawaz Sharif’s name in the documents provided by NAB as evidence. If decided on merit, this case against Mian Nawaz Sharif would prove false.
It is high time that a historic wrong against a popular political leader is corrected. PML-N under the leadership of Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif is a hope for Pakistan’s future and deserves a fair chance to lead his people. With his return, we as a nation can anticipate better times and the triumph of justice once more.
