6 years ago
Islamabad:
Former Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his daughter Maryam, who were sentenced for long jail terms in a graft case, returned to Pakistan today. Nawaz Sharif and his political heir Maryam are likely to be arrested upon their arrival in Lahore. Massive arrangements were made for their arrival, with more than 10,000 police personnel deployed. Many members of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) were detained on Friday. Nawaz Sharif is returning from London via Abu Dhabi, a week after a court gave him a 10-year-jail term over the purchase of flats in London. His daughter was also handed a seven-year jail term. Pakistan will go for elections on July 25.
Here are the live updates of Nawaz Sharif's arrival:
Both Maryam and Nawaz Sharif have been taken to Sihala guest house.
Nawaz Sharif and his daughter Maryam Nawaz are being taken to the Adiala jail in Rawalpindi after they were arrested in Lahore.
Rally By PML-N Supporters In Lahore
Massive protests have been reported in Lahore.
A helicopter is present at the airport to take Nawaz Sharif and Maryam Nawaz to Islamabad from there they will be sent to Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi after producing them before the accountability court, news agency PTI reported.
Nawaz Sharif and his daughter Maryam Nawaz have been arrested at the Lahore airport.
Nawaz Sharif's passport has been confiscated.
As National Accountability Bureau, Pakistan enters the plane, PML-N workers accompanying Nawaz Sharif raise slogans: Local media
Mobile services have been reportedly suspended in Lahore. 
Asad Umar, a member of Imran Khan's PTI, tweeted that PML-N workers had the freedom to assemble.
As an opponent i should say pml n should be allowed as much freedom as nawaz sharif allowed political opponents in model town & Islamabad but unlike NS i actually believe in democracy . Pml n should have freedom of assembly as guaranteed in the constitution
- Asad Umar (@Asad_Umar) July 13, 2018
Nawaz Sharif's mother is also at the airport to receive his son.
Bilawal Zardari Bhutto earlier questioned the detention of PML-N workers.
Rally by the party workers of PML-N is headed to the airport, Pakistan's local media reported.
Nawaz Sharif has landed in Lahore, local media reported.
Nawaz Sharif's Etihad EY 243 flight begins descent to Lahore, news agency ANI reported.
Nawaz Sharif's flight is expected to land in Lahore soon.
Arresting Nawaz Sharif Not Enough: Imran Khan's PTI
Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Friday said that arresting former Nawaz Sharif is not enough. "Looted money should also be retrieved," the party said, news agency ANI reported.
Etihad Airways flight carrying Nawaz Sharif and Maryam Nawaz to Pakistan is expected to be diverted to Islamabad from Lahore, news agency ANI reported citing Pakistani media
Imran Khan this afternoon tweeted as turmoil continues in Pakistan over Nawaz Sharif's arrival.
Among the many leaders of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz ((PML-N) who were detained today was also the former minister, Saad Rafique. Earlier this week, the Punjab caretaker government arrested hundreds of PML-N party workers and supporters in a bid to prevent the party from leading a rally to receive former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and his daughter Maryam Nawaz, who are scheduled to reach Lahore from London later in the day, news agency ANI reported.
Nawaz Sharif's grandsons - Junaid Safdar and Zakariya Hussain - were released today following an altercation outside their residence in Park Lane, London, news agency ANI reported. Junaid Safdar is son of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader and Nawaz Sharif's daughter Maryam Nawaz, while Zakaria Hussain is the son of Hussain Nawaz. A video, being shared on social media, showed altercation between Junaid and demonstrators.
Police said Junaid had punched one of the demonstrators.Junaid Safdar wrestling outside #Avenfied House.
- Bilal Azeem (@BilalAzeem) July 12, 2018
Can you imagine if that happened in Punjab? The #Punjab Police would have tortured and arrested the victims rather than the attackers. 1/2 pic.twitter.com/YvcNYcDt2k
Nawaz Sharif, 68, was sentenced to 10 years in prison by a Pakistani accountability court for corrupt practices linked his family's purchase of four flats in London.
Before Nawaz Sharif and Maryam Nawaz boarded their flight to Lahore around 6 pm - at least four hours late - they waited at a first class lounge and, according to journalists. They were not allowed to meet their lawyer or even the media. Read here.
At least 10 people were killed today when a suicide bomber hit an election rally in southwestern Pakistan, news agency Reuters reported. Read here.
Police has detained PML-N supporters who were on their way to Lahore airport ahead of Nawaz Sharif's arrival, news agency ANI reported.
Police has detained PML-N supporters who were on their way to Lahore airport ahead of Nawaz Sharif's arrival, news agency ANI reported.
Huge media presence has been reported on the plane that Nawaz Sharif has boarded.
Huge presence of media on plane@MaryamNSharif #NawazSharif pic.twitter.com/kgxeNtkouf
- Daily Nawa-i-Waqt (@Nawaiwaqt_) July 13, 2018
"I will reach Lahore airport in a few hours. I urge all to reach Lahore airport to welcome him. Currently, I am at an interior town, where people are gathering to proceed to Lahore airport to welcome him," PML(N) presidet Shahbaz Sharif was quoted as saying by news agency ANI
After the flight delay, Nawaz Sharif is on his way to board the flight to Lahore, say sources.
Time For Media To Be Brave
"This flight to Lahore is never delayed. It's time for media to be brave. People have lost fear. Media should too": Nawaz Sharif
"This flight to Lahore is never delayed. It's time for media to be brave. People have lost fear. Media should too": Nawaz Sharif
I left with my wife. Obviously, I am returning with a goal. I am ready for eventuality. I may be arrested her on in Lahore: Nawaz Sharif in Abu Dhabi
"I am returning with a goal," he said ahead of his arrival in Pakistan.
It was reported earlier that Nawaz Sharif's flight was delayed.
The Sharif family is in Saudi Arabia's Abu Dhabi for hours.
Over 300 PML-N workers and leaders have been detained in Pakistan in a massive crackdown on the party activists in Lahore ahead of the arrival of Nawaz Sharif, PTI reported.
Grandsons of former Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Junaid Safdar and Zakaria Hussain, were arrested on Thursday by the London police for allegedly punching a demonstrator outside their house.
#WATCH: Junaid Safdar & Zakaria Hussain, grandsons of former Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif, arrested by London police for punching a demonstrator outside their residence in Park Lane yesterday. Junaid Safdar is the son of Maryam Nawaz & Zakaria Hussain is the son of Hussain Nawaz pic.twitter.com/FTEy3Rskkt
- ANI (@ANI) July 13, 2018
Nawaz Sharif was in London with his wife and children when the verdict was announced. He said he is returning to Pakistan from London to fulfil his pledge to "honour the vote".
On July 6, an accountability court sentenced Nawaz Sharif for 10 years in jail in the Avenfield properties case. His daughter Maryam Nawaz Sharif was also sentenced to 7 years in jail.
In a video message, tweeted by Maryam Nawaz Sharif, the former Pakistan prime minister urged his followers to stand with him and "change the fate of the country".
Nawaz Sharif and his daughter Maryam Nawaz Sharif move from UAE's Abu Dhabi International Airport. They are coming to Lahore, Pakistan in Etihad EY 243 flight.
Nawaz Sharif and Maryam Nawaz are expected to land in Lahore at 6:15 pm(local time). After being arrested, they will be taken to Islamabad by helicopter. They will be sent to Adiala jail to serve their imprisonment.
Nawaz Sharif will be arrested by Pakistan's National Accountability Bureau (NAB), which had sentenced him to jail, after his plane reaches Pakistan. The teams of the agency are stationed at both Lahore's Allama Iqbal International Airport, the original planned destination, and at Islamabad International Airport, in the off chance that the flight is diverted for any reason.
Nawaz Sharif, 68, was sentenced to 10 years in prison by a Pakistani accountability court for corrupt practices linked to his family's purchase of four London flats. He faces two more corruption cases against him following the Panama Paper scandal.
I will be taken straight to jail. But I am doing this for people of Pakistan, sacrificing for generations to come. Such opportunity won't come again.Let's build destiny of Pakistan together: Nawaz Sharif said on-board plane to Abu Dhabi
Nawaz Sharif and his daughter Maryam Nawaz Sharif have landed at UAE's Abu Dhabi International Airport, reported ANI.
Pakistan's Punjab province government has ordered to shut mobile networks in Lahore from 3 pm to 12 am. The provincial government has also ordered an internet shutdown.
Pakistan's media regulator has ordered television channels to stop live telecast of briefings of political leaders containing "defamatory and derogatory content".
