A week after having been convicted in the Avenfield properties reference, former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and daughter Maryam are expected to return to Pakistan today and begin their jail sentence.
The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo and his daughter departed from London late Thursday and have presently reached Abu Dhabi, from where they are expected to reach Lahore around 6pm.
NAB chief to chair meeting today
The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has disclosed that it has arranged two helicopters, expected to shift the father-daughter duo to Adiala jail in Rawalpindi as soon as they land.
نواز شریف نے اپنا فرض نبھا دیا۔ اب آپ کی باری ہے ! pic.twitter.com/TqG2evM0wn
— Maryam Nawaz Sharif (@MaryamNSharif) July 13, 2018
Moreover, NAB has deployed two teams each at Lahore and Islamabad airports for the purpose.
NAB Chairman Justice (retd) Javed Iqbal has warned that strict action will be taken against anyone who obstructs the arrest of PML-N leaders. The PML-N, however, has claimed that it will only take out a peaceful rally to the airport to welcome its leader.
The chairman has also issued directions that the bureau will follow court orders and has summoned an emergency meeting in this regard today.
Move like a hero , live like a lion #NawazSharif and @MaryamNSharif move in Abu Dhabi airport for EY243 pic.twitter.com/2D1QJxGM6J
— Saima Farooq (@SaimaFarooq) July 13, 2018
PML-N preparations, workers' arrests
Caretaker Punjab home minister told Geo News Thursday night that representatives of federal institutions will arrest the PML-N supremo from inside the airport.
After condemnations by the PML-N leadership regarding the arrest of scores of workers in the past few days, the minister claimed that only 50-100 PML-N workers have been arrested for violating the Election Commission of Pakistan's code of conduct.
He claimed that only those political workers involved in criminal cases are being detained, along with those who may cause disturbances during the July 25 election.
With PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif's insistence that the party's peaceful march to welcome its 'Quaid' will go as planned today, the crackdown against party workers continues across Punjab where dozens of workers and leaders have been arrested.
In Bahawalpur, former state minister for education and interior Balighur Rehman and party leader Javed Gorchani in Rajanpur have been arrested.
Talking to Geo News, the Punjab home minister said as far as he knows, the PML-N has not applied for permission to take out its 'welcome rally' today — a necessity under the election rules.
With Section 144 in place across Punjab, the gathering of 10 or more people has been banned already.
Keeping in a view the volatile situation, the Lahore traffic police have issued a special plan so commuters do not get caught up in the PML-N rally.
Moreover, containers have been placed at various roads and cross-sections, and roads leading to the airport are expected to be blocked later today to deter the PML-N rally.
Airlines have asked passengers travelling abroad to reach the airport at least six hours earlier.
The directions have been issued keeping in mind the road blockades and the PML-N's planned welcoming rally.
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