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LAHORE: PML-N President Shahbaz Sharif will lead a rally to Lahore airport on Friday to receive ousted prime minister Nawaz Sharif and Maryam who are returning from the UK.
“Preparations to give a historic reception to Nawaz and Maryam are under way. Shahbaz will lead the PML-N rally on July 13,” PML-N spokesperson Marriyum Aurenzeb told a news conference here on Tuesday.
She said July 13 would be a reflection of July 25 polls.
“Tens of thousands of people will gather in Lahore to welcome Mian Sahib and Maryam Bibi. It will be a peaceful rally,” she said.
The former information minister said Nawaz had pledged not to leave the people alone.
According to law experts, she said, the verdict against him would be “written in black words”. She said the PML-N never targeted the institutions and Mr Sharif and Ms Maryam were returning to face the court verdict.
“We are against the mindset that does not care about the constitution and gives no respect to the vote,” Ms Aurengzeb said. She also condemned the decision to suspend the local body representatives.
Earlier, Shahbaz Sharif presided over a meeting of the senior party leaders and reviewed the arrangements of gathering the party workers for the reception of the elder Sharif.
After the meeting Senator Mushahid Husain Syed told reporters that the return of Mr Sharif was a matter of life and death for the PML-N.
“Although Begum Kulsoom Nawaz is seriously ill, Nawaz Sharif has taken a brave decision to perform his national duty,” he said.
He said the accountability court decision had vindicated the stance of Mr Sharif that he had not committed a single rupee corruption.
Former minister Khurram Dastagir said July 13 would be a historic day. “If any hurdles are created in the way of the workers, they will remove them,” he said, adding that the leadership had given a clear message to the party workers to remain peaceful.
Punjab Assembly former speaker Rana Iqbal said the PML-N workers were eager to receive their leader and no hurdle could stop them.
Published in Dawn, July 11th, 2018
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Comments (71) Closed
Jul 11, 2018 07:58am
Plans are being made to receive convicted criminals as if they are heroes. This can only happen in Pakistan. Government should put its foot down and squash all such plans. I still believe they will not return to Pakistan. Something will happen on Thursday and that will make them change their minds.
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Jul 11, 2018 08:01am
To prevent violence, riots and loss of lives. Gov. must house arrest Shahbaz and others before next Friday!
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Jul 11, 2018 08:05am
So SS is going to give "hero" welcome to convicted and he's expecting to be the next PM of Pakistan, no way we're going to accept that. It's time to lock up the whole corrupt family.
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Jul 11, 2018 08:11am
What a joke! Where else in the whole world are convicted criminals given a grand reception like this? Who’s going to pay for maintaining law and order in the city. Higher authorities take notice and stop this madness before the world laugh at us. Really, how much longer are these corrupts going to fool the people.
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Jul 11, 2018 08:11am
What a waste of resources and time. People of Pakistan please wake up this entire family is corrupt and are the main reason Pakistan is 40 years behind.
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Jul 11, 2018 08:21am
Shahbaz will lead a rally for them. No surprise there. Just hope the PML-N workers don't get out of hand. Or are not ordered to.
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Jul 11, 2018 08:24am
Given the Peshawar bomb blast, the reception being planned for NS is fraught with serious security risk.
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Jul 11, 2018 08:24am
Hero welcome to a convict? Do we respect law of the land?
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Jul 11, 2018 08:26am
What a shame. What a mockery of democracy. A thief is proudly being given a "rousing welcome". Is this democracy?
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Jul 11, 2018 08:29am
Give respect to vote and not to the law? I don’t understand this
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Jul 11, 2018 08:30am
Only in Pak, you can be convicted by courts but you can gather mobs and pretend you are innocent..
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Jul 11, 2018 08:49am
They are trying to create law and order situation. In a developed country, a convicted politician would be kicked out of the party. But here, they are welcoming him as a hero who has been declared criminal by the court of law. That shows their true state of mind.
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Jul 11, 2018 09:01am
PML-N, Nawaz Sharif, Shabaz Shrief has no choice but to test their last efforts to show judiciary and others that they still have public behind them.
These corrupt brothers and corrupt family has destroyed our country.
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Jul 11, 2018 09:10am
PMLN is free to protest the court decision in its rallies. But giving heros welcome to convicted criminal should not be allowed by the authorities.
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Jul 11, 2018 09:13am
Who will pay for the security arrangements?
This is not official business; it is a private affair for the participants.
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Jul 11, 2018 09:13am
PMLN has been advocating ' give respect to the vote'. Now they are practicing 'ignore the law'
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Jul 11, 2018 09:21am
Only in Pakistan a corrupt , liar and convicted will have a reception
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Jul 11, 2018 09:25am
Welcome. Waiting SIR
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Jul 11, 2018 09:26am
I wish people or Pakistan understands the difference between criminals and noble man. I wish my people can read and understand the judgement given by supreme court to Nawaz Sharif and not buy the false claim being spread by Mariam and Nawaz Sharif.
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Jul 11, 2018 09:29am
@Maverik such are the actions and reasons which give way to Martial law. We cannot afford another.
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Jul 11, 2018 09:32am
They should be airlifted from the airport to jail directly.
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Jul 11, 2018 09:52am
The "Protest against Justice". Only in Pakistan.
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Jul 11, 2018 10:17am
The world of the free.
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Jul 11, 2018 10:55am
@mariam don't bother. Shabaz is trying to sabotage the reception.
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Jul 11, 2018 11:02am
In which part of the world such court decisions are made,where accused not charged with corruption practices and will be convicted at the same time.
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Jul 11, 2018 11:06am
Government must take against this drama. Unfortunately, some families in Pakistan consider themselves above the law of land.Pakistan can only make progress when all become equal before the law.
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Jul 11, 2018 11:10am
What a joke, holding a rally to welcome a criminal home.
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Jul 11, 2018 11:24am
I urge Pakistanis to punish PML-N on the election day.
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Jul 11, 2018 11:25am
Shahbaz Sharif needs to be arrested and punished for obstruction of justice.
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Jul 11, 2018 11:41am
Everyone has a right to do what they want as long as they are not violating rules. Under what premise are commenters asking for a political rally to be blocked? Some are asking about security costs, how about the security costs during the dharna scam under the umpire's directive.
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Jul 11, 2018 12:27pm
Goodness - reception for criminals????
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Jul 11, 2018 12:38pm
@VRPATIL probably in India, in Pakistan the court has clearly mentioned why they are convicted? Let me enlighten you, “assets beyond known income while holding a public office is a criminal act accounting for corruption.” I hope you are cleared though I’m wondering why Indians are so much interested in this affair of Pakistan???
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Jul 11, 2018 01:15pm
The the destination of this palne should be changed at the last moment.
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Jul 11, 2018 01:24pm
The million dollar question is " Does Shahbaz REALLY want to lead the rally ? " ....the answer is he has no choice he is going with the flow.
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Jul 11, 2018 01:25pm
@Desi There is no government which can be called as such in this Country.
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Jul 11, 2018 01:47pm
Well it looks like a "Mafia" leader is being received by his scicillian fallowmen. The writ of the Law is going to be challenged.
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Jul 11, 2018 02:02pm
Please deal with shabaz he has a lot to answer for.
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Jul 11, 2018 02:04pm
Yes, please go ahead and give the convicted criminals a historic reception. We should all celebrate the fact that these criminals will now spend time in jail and also keep an eye on their supporters to find out what and who encourages these elements to support crimes and criminals. Supporting convicted criminals should in itself be a crime. Shouldn't it?.
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Jul 11, 2018 02:12pm
Both convicted Nawaz Sharif and her daughter are likely to come back on 13 July and will be arrested within the Lahore Airport's vicinity. All efforts to welcome them will be wasted, because, they are convicted for deception, forgery and money laundering cases against NAB's article 9a5, and public knows about their corrupt practices!
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Jul 11, 2018 02:13pm
A criminal welcoming another criminal and looter of billions How ironical
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Jul 11, 2018 02:37pm
First there is law and then comes vote. Is Noon League professing lawlessness ?
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Jul 11, 2018 02:49pm
Have some respect for LAW. how self obsessed these politicians are.now using poor pmln supporters who doesn't even know which city supreme court is .
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Jul 11, 2018 03:06pm
Shehbaz Shariff must be stopped. Nawaz is a convicted criminal and anyone aiding or abetting him should also be dragged to the law courts just as it is done with any ordinary Pakistani citizen.
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Jul 11, 2018 03:38pm
I very strongly suggest that the simple common prudence demands that Pakistan must tell UAE and seek its approval allowing us to send our police contingent in plain clothes with handcuffs to Dubai with the instructions that from Dubai they board the same flight which brings Nawaz and Maryam back to Pakistan so that the moment the aircraft enters Pakistan aerial territory both the father and the daughter are arrested right inside the plane where they may not have supporters or even if they have bunch of them they can be controlled by the police in any case and the moment the plane lands both of them be transported by road to the jail which will avoid creating any law and order situation. But if Nawaz and Maryam are allowed to meet or address the people at the airport then there is very strong possibility of clashes and spilling blood which must be avoided at all cost irrespective of the fact as to who is killed or injured since all are Pakistanis in any case be with PML N or PTI for that matter or even the police. Don’t forget Benazir lost her life and I wish and pray that it must not be repeated now. Secondly all those who shout against the court verdict must not be ignored and instead they must be rounded up and punished for ridiculing judiciary which cannot and must not be tolerated in any case. They can certainly praise Nawaz and Maryam in any manner they want but they simply cannot be allowed to criticize the judge who convicted them. Nawaz and Maryam have inborn right to appeal against their conviction but yet they also cannot directly or indirectly rebuke the judge who has sent them to jail. Iqbal Hadi Zaidi
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Jul 11, 2018 03:39pm
What a joke.
Convicted persons should be flown straight from the airport to JAIL in custody of armed Rangers and Police. Law & Order MUST be maintained by the Government.
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Jul 11, 2018 03:45pm
All PML(N) trouble makers including Shehbaz Sharif should be house arrested to stop any stupid agitations.
Convicted Shrifs should be jailed in MACHCH JAIL and the NAB should complete any superfluous procedures by accompanying them to Jail.
No nonsence!!!
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Jul 11, 2018 03:46pm
Along with the legal process which he will definitely follow this will be a people verdict on the decision which was based on a flimsy circumstantial evidence which probably will not convict anyone except Nawaz Sharif.
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Jul 11, 2018 03:52pm
@Desi happens in India too.
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Jul 11, 2018 04:02pm
@Zahid : I fully agree.
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Jul 11, 2018 04:05pm
I will consider him a very brave man if he comes back. Although he knows he has to go to jail, still if he comes back along his daughter, he will make a perfect precedence for obeying law of the country.
Unlike coward Musharraf who is still on the run.
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Jul 11, 2018 04:08pm
@Vish : Yes, it happened when Morarji Desai and others were convicted during emergency by Indira 's government.
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Jul 11, 2018 04:21pm
"Shahbaz to lead rally for receiving Nawaz, Maryam" and dropping them off to jail for a historic and well deserved sentence...
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Jul 11, 2018 04:28pm
Have had enough, now it's time for government to use it's iron hand
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Jul 11, 2018 04:37pm
Goons, grand looters and now convicted Criminals are coming back! Welcomed by partners in crime who will face the same end. Shahbaz and Zardari you are next!
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Jul 11, 2018 04:39pm
I do not think Nawaz or Mariam are coming back.
Its a 60/40 in favor of not coming back.
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Jul 11, 2018 04:47pm
If Sharifs are criminal and extremely unpopular as being suggested by all then whats the problem. Let SS take out a procession no one will come to join or may be they are popular and then one can understand why the unease & restlessness in the opposite camp.
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Jul 11, 2018 05:37pm
@Truth is truth "Yes, it happened when Morarji Desai and others were convicted during emergency by Indira 's government." But there is a big difference between two Morarji Desai was an upright leader and he was convicted on political grounds whereas NS and Co has been convicted on the charges of rampant corruption, forgery and perjury
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Jul 11, 2018 05:38pm
@VRPATIL Please read the complete verdict then comment
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Jul 11, 2018 05:40pm
@Bitter truth There is complete difference between case against Musharraf and case against NS. Musharraf has not been convicted not even charged on financial corruption
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Jul 11, 2018 06:55pm
Enough of dramatic talks. There should be no rally allowed. The mafia bosses must be plucked from the arrival plane straight into another to go straight to jail.
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Jul 11, 2018 06:57pm
What other options does he has to make his presence felt, stay afloat, show his faithfulness towards his brother and remain in the limelight?
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Jul 11, 2018 09:25pm
Can't imagine a corrupt ex- prime minister & his corrupt daughter being given so much importance.
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Jul 11, 2018 10:08pm
We r with you Shahbaz shareef
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Jul 12, 2018 05:45pm
Arrest the accomplices as well! Any one who supports a criminal should be treated as a criminal also. Pakistan should not allow criminals to be treated as public heroes.
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Jul 12, 2018 07:32pm
''The former information minister said Nawaz had pledged not to leave the people alone.''
They still want a piece of us.
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Jul 12, 2018 10:32pm
And the wasteful tradition of rallies on receiving everytime a politician lands at the airport will keep on going.
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Jul 12, 2018 10:36pm
There is no wonder the nation is without any awareness for sure
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Jul 13, 2018 12:33am
@kabir Musharraf wasn't involved in corruption
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Jul 13, 2018 04:43am
@JA-Australia
Somehow the taxes of ordinary Pakistanis will end up paying for his security. Sad.
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Jul 13, 2018 05:19am
put section 144, for public safety. disallow any rallies. arrest offenders. exit aiplane, enter helicopter, fly to jail. diffuse the rally.
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Jul 13, 2018 06:30am
I hope the plane is diverted to another city and then corrupt Shareef are flown into jail.
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