ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Saturday evening returned Pakistan from London, 40 days after he underwent a successful open heart surgery in the United Kingdom.
The prime minister landed at the Allama Iqbal International Airport in Lahore along with his family members where they were received by Chief Minister Punjab Shahbaz Sharif, Governor Punjab Rafiq Rajwana, Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal, Leader of the House in Senate Raja Zafarul Haq and other cabinet members.
Much awaited homecoming …… Shukar Alhamdolillah! pic.twitter.com/XlAT45f5jk
— Maryam Nawaz Sharif (@MaryamNSharif) July 9, 2016
Earlier talking to the media persons at his residence in London before departure, the prime minister thanked the entire nation for praying for his good health. He also prayed to Almighty Allah for the security of the country and well-being of the nation.
Sharif traveled back to Pakistan in a Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) aircraft, especially dedicated for his return.
In a statement issued on Friday, a PIA Spokesman said that a PIA aircraft had been deputed to transport Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his London camp office back to Pakistan.
“Now that the Prime Minister has recovered after surgery and is allowed to travel, the whole Camp Office has to be shifted back to Pakistan, the spokesman said.
“On PIA’s regular flights so many seats were not available due to which the only option was to dedicate an aircraft,” he added.
In a twitter message on Friday, the prime minister’s daughter and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Maryam Nawaz had informed that “Prime Minister will Insha’ Allah be arriving tomorrow evening. Allah has been Kind.”
Prime Minister will Insha’Allah be arriving tomorrow evening. Allah has been Kind. Indebted for your kind prayers & wishes.
— Maryam Nawaz Sharif (@MaryamNSharif) July 8, 2016
Maryam Nawaz also thanked the people for their “kind prayers and wishes”.
It may be mentioned here that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had underwent a successful cardiac-surgery in London on May 31 and since then was recovering fast in London.
His heart surgery was carried out weeks after names of his children including Maryam Nawaz, Hussain Nawaz and Hassan Nawaz were mentioned in Panama documents, revealing offshore companies of world renowned personalities.
The federal government especially the prime minister received a widespread criticism over the Panama revelations which eventually led him to announce the formation of Parliamentary Committee to prepare Terms of Reference (TORs) for a proposed Judicial Commission to investigate Panama allegations. However till now, the government and the opposition parties remained unsuccessful in this regard.