Nawaz Sharif returns to Kot Lakhpat Jail

Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif returns to Kot Lakhpat jail following the expiry of his six-week bail on medical grounds on Tuesday, in the corruption case.

PML-N supremo was supposed to reach the prison before 12-midnight because of the bail expiry. But his motorcade progressed at the snail’s pace because of the traffic jam caused by his supporters’ presence.

Nawaz Sharif finally managed to reach the jail after 12:15 am. He arrived at the prison in a rally attended by Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Khawaja Asif, Pervaiz Malik, Javed Hashmi, and other prominent party leaders and workers.

A heavy contingent of police was deployed on the road adjoining the jail.

Maryum Nawaz who accompanied his father in the car which was driven by Hamza Shabaz has shared a video message of her father on Twitter.

“I am thankful to my lovely workers… I thank Zinda dilan-e-Lahore who accompanied me”, says Nawaz Sharif said in the video message.

Thanking his supporters, Nawaz Sharif further added, “Their passion and prayers will bear fruit and this night of tyranny will come to an end. I know they understand why I am being punished”.

Maryam Nawaz Sharif in another tweet said that it took them four hours to reach Kot Lakhpat jail from Raiwind which is hardly 30 minutes away. “Thank you Lahore,” she also added.

The former prime minister left his residence in Lahore after breaking his fast. Several prominent PMLN party leaders were part of Nawaz Shairf’s entourage, including former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, former defence minister Khawaja Asif, and Punjab Assembly opposition leader Hamza Shahbaz.

According to the news source, the Punjab home department directed the prison to accept Nawaz Sharif at the Jail despite being late.

As earlier Kot Lakhpat Jail’s superintendent said that “since Nawaz did not report back to jail in time, the lockup has been closed for the night and jail authorities will now not receive him”.

“A letter has been handed over to Jati Umra’s security staff,” the official had said, adding that “now we await the home department’s special orders, on the basis of which a decision will be taken”.