ISLAMABAD/LONDON: National Assembly Opposition Leader Shehbaz Sharif returned to Pakistan on Sunday morning after remaining in London for over four months.
Shehbaz landed at New Islamabad Airport at 05:30 AM via Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flight PK-786. Announcing his return to the country on Twitter, he urged citizens to “practice social distancing and to self-isolate if possible”.
“Just landed in Islamabad — maintain a distance from one another and try to stay at your homes so that none of us are forced to part with our loved ones due to this virus. Love you all!”
Just landed Islamabad — aik doosray se faasla rakhain aur koshish kar ke ghar per rahain ta ke koi bhi hum main se is beemari ki waja se apnay piyaroon se juda na ho- Allah aap sab ka aur watan e aziz ka Hamiyo Nasir ho. Love you all!
— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) March 22, 2020
He was received by PML-N spokesperson Marriyum Aurangzeb, former premier Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and et al. According to media reports, soon after his arrival, Shehbaz went into self-quarantine as a standard safety practice against the virus.
The PML-N president also spoke to National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser over the telephone. Reports suggested that the two exchanged views on pandemic and subsequent economic challenges to the country.
Qaiser said the political leadership must unite to fight the virus together. “Our political leadership has always been united on national issues. Let us send a message of courage and bravery to our people,” he added.
The two deliberated on setting up a joint parliamentary committee to tackle the virus outbreak and monitor the government’s measures, a private media outlet reported.
Yesterday, the PML-N spokesperson Marriyum Aurangzeb had said in a statement that Shehbaz had decided to return to the country “in view of the situation of the spread of coronavirus”.
The PML-N president had left for London in November last year along with his brother and PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif, who was allowed to travel abroad by the government and courts to seek medical treatment.
Aurangzeb had said although Nawaz was scheduled to undergo surgery next week, Shehbaz had “decided that his presence among the [Pakistani] people was more important”.
In a video message before his departure, Shehbaz had said coronavirus has “wreaked havoc” in Pakistan and around the world.
— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) March 21, 2020
He had said he was staying in London for Nawaz’s scheduled heart intervention but upon hearing about the government’s decision to suspend international flights, he had sought his elder brother’s opinion.
Shehbaz had said he decided to return after Nawaz advised him to do so. “Being a Pakistani, leader of the opposition and a political figure, it is my duty to return to the country,” he had said in the video message.
