Lahore, 29 August 2024 (TDI): The PML-N has been silent, neither confirming nor refuting the rumors that leader Nawaz Sharif is preparing for a medical vacation to London in the upcoming weeks.
The former prime minister is reportedly expected to travel to London in September for a check-up and treatment. He intends to stay for more than two weeks for standard medical screenings.
But two prominent party figures strongly declined to comment, claiming they had no knowledge of Nawaz Sharif’s travel plans.
Nawaz has regular medical examinations, according to Senator Irfan Siddiqui, a close confidant of the PML-N leader.
He continued, saying that if Nawaz did visit London, it would be on a usual basis, but he also stated he was unaware of any particular itinerary.
After the PML-N stormed to power in Punjab and Islamabad, allegedly helped along by the establishment, Nawaz has mostly stayed out of the spotlight, appearing in the media very infrequently and with great care.
His most recent visit, which caused controversy, was a pre-recorded and edited statement when he proposed a two-month electricity subsidy only for Punjab.
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Even seasoned journalists were confused and confused by the speech, which was presented as a press conference, and wondered why such a dishonest presentation was made.
Pointing out factual mistakes in its narrative has become much more difficult due to the government’s stringent control over public advertising and its arsenal of punitive measures against media outlets at its discretion.
During his most recent visit, Nawaz attempted to bring back his tired “why was I ousted” storyline, which many perceived as an attempt to re-enter politics. But as political commentators pointed out, the move was a fatal blunder.
Since he recaptured the party’s leadership from his younger brother, Shehbaz Sharif, the incumbent Prime Minister of Pakistan, earlier this year, political observers have actually been speculating about Nawaz Sharif’s official comeback to national politics.
Many in the party think that Nawaz frequently thinks back on his previous struggles because he doesn’t want to be seen as a beneficiary of the current arrangement.
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Nevertheless, with his party controlling the federal government and Punjab, the most important province in the country, at least nominally, Nawaz Sharif has limited leeway to maneuver at this moment and play the victim.
Many speculate that he is purposefully trying to leave all of his options open by taking an unclear position.
