Elections in Pakistan | Former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif returns from exile

(Lahore) Fireworks, dove releases and cheers from his supporters shaped the welcome in his country on Saturday for former Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, for his return after almost four years of exile.

Tens of thousands of his supporters invaded Iqbal Park in Lahore late in the afternoon, amid a sea of ​​green flags decorated with an orange tiger, to see Nawaz Sharif, 73, return to the stage.

Sajida Gillani, aged around forty, has terminal cancer, but she would not have missed the return of the man who was prime minister three times.

“I have loved Nawaz Sharif since I was a child,” says Sajida, who suffers from appendix cancer diagnosed two years ago. She says she recently fell into a coma and was placed on a ventilator after an operation.

“My daughter says that even in this state, I was asking questions about the party,” she told AFP. In the past two years, “I haven’t missed a gathering, even during my treatment.”

“I have to take painkillers all the time because of the cancer. But today, I am not in pain because I am so happy that Nawaz Sharif is coming back,” she adds.

A major figure in Pakistani politics for more than three decades, Nawaz Sharif had been exiled in London since the end of 2019, after being dismissed from his post as prime minister in 2017.

Mr. Sharif returned to Pakistan to try to return the Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) to power in elections scheduled for January. His great rival, Imran Khan, prime minister from 2018 until his fall on a motion of no confidence in April 2022, has been imprisoned since August.

Lahore is the capital of the Punjab province, around which Nawaz Sharif, who was never able to complete any of these terms, built his career.

Muhammad Hassan, 19, from Muzaffarabad in Punjab, belongs to the student wing of the PML-N. “I came here to see Nawaz Sharif because I love him,” he confides.

“He did a lot for the students. He gave us scholarships and distributed laptops. So I expect him to help us again.”

“Serious lack of leadership”

Imran Khan, a popular former cricket star, is the champion of Pakistani youth, tired of seeing the same family dynasties sharing power for half a century.

But Muhammad is not one of them. “I like Nawaz Sharif and where I come from his party is very strong,” he assures.

Steel magnate among the richest people in Pakistan, Nawaz Sharif remains appreciated by part of the population for having enjoyed a certain economic success in power.

Under his last mandate, the country experienced a recovery linked to a mini-boom in construction, and an improvement in the energy situation.

“Right now, there is a serious lack of political leadership and Nawaz Sharif is the only leader who can bring good to Pakistan. He has done a lot of work for the country in the past,” thinks Naveed Saddiq, 39.

However, the image of the PML-N was greatly damaged by the transition to power of Shehbaz, Nawaz’s brother, after the ouster of Imran Khan.

The already difficult economic situation that he had inherited became even worse under his mandate, with a dizzying rise in inflation.

The return of Nawaz Sharif does not mean that he will become prime minister if the PML-N wins the elections.

His brother Shehbaz also maintains his chances, because he is seen as more conciliatory with the army, which often makes and breaks governments in Pakistan, according to analysts.

But for Muhammad the student, there is no doubt. Shehbaz can return to rule Punjab, as he did for a long time. “Nawaz is better as prime minister because he thinks like a businessman. »