South Asia

Nawaz Sharif vows to work toward economic recovery

Published: 15:25, 22 October 2023

Nawaz Sharif, a three-time Premier of Pakistan, launched his party's campaign for the upcoming election next year upon returning from a four-year self-imposed exile in London.

In his address to thousands of supporters in Lahore, Sharif, a 73-year-old veteran politician, expressed his commitment to combat the alarming inflation levels.
'I want to serve this nation,' Sharif declared as he stood before his supporters in his hometown of Lahore. He emphasized his sole desire to witness the nation's prosperity, making comparisons between the prices of essential goods today and those during his previous tenure before his ouster in 2017.
While Sharif did not outline specific plans, he pledged to work diligently toward economic recovery, asserting, 'We will control inflation.'
Upon his arrival in Islamabad, he disembarked from a chartered plane and proceeded to sign and file appeals against the convictions that led to his imprisonment before his departure from the country in 2019. These convictions still stand, but a recent court ruling has prevented his arrest until his scheduled appearance in court on Tuesday.
Although Sharif remains ineligible to run for or hold public office due to his convictions, his legal team has indicated his intention to appeal these verdicts. Furthermore, his political party has expressed his aspiration to serve as Prime Minister for a fourth time.
Sharif's foremost challenge will be to regain the support of his political base, which has seen a shift towards his main rival, Imran Khan, despite Khan's imprisonment. Imran Khan's popularity endures following his removal from the premiership in 2022, although he, too, faces disqualification from the upcoming election due to his conviction for graft in August, which he is currently appealing.