A day following the announcement made by former Prime Minister andPresident of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Shehbaz Sharif,regarding his elder brother’s impending return from exile in October,Pakistan’s caretaker Prime Minister, Anwaarul Haq Kakar, stated that thedecision to handcuff PML-N’s leader, Nawaz Sharif, upon his return to thecountry rested within the jurisdiction of law enforcement agencies (LEAs).He emphasized that these agencies would make this decision in accordancewith the law. If they think that he should be arrested by law then he wouldbe arrested.
In an interview with a private news channel, Prime Minister Kakarunderscored, “The law enforcement agencies will determine this matter basedon legal provisions. If they deem it necessary to restrain him, they willproceed accordingly, and vice versa.” He expressed confidence in thediscretion exercised by the LEAs, hoping that they would act in the bestinterests of the nation.
Addressing concerns about Nawaz Sharif’s potential arrest upon his return,the interim premier clarified that this was not a decision under hispurview. He reiterated that the decision to either incarcerate or grantfreedom of movement to the PML-N supremo would ultimately be made by theleadership of the judicial and law enforcement processes.
Kakar emphasized that the federal government could only intervene if therewere clear violations of the law by either of the entities involved. NawazSharif, who is expected to return on October 21, had previously beenconvicted in the Al-Azizia Mills and Avenfield corruption cases in 2018,with these cases still pending in the judicial system.
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His departure from the country in November 2019, following temporarymedical relief granted by the Islamabad High Court, has generatedsignificant interest and speculation regarding his return and potentiallegal proceedings. Additionally, in 2020, he was declared an absconder andlater a proclaimed offender in the Toshakhana vehicles reference by thePakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf government
