Pakistan premier returns home after open-heart surgery

By Aamir Latif

KARACHI, Pakistan (AA) - Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif returned to Pakistan from the U.K. Saturday after a seven-week long medical treatment ahead of local opposition parties' planned protest movement against him.

In remarks made shortly after his arrival at the Lahore city airport, Sharif said: “I am ready to face the opposition movement. I have done that in the past, and now I have a fresh heart [to face them].”

According to his televised comments, he added: “I am completely healthy and have recovered by the grace of Allah. I will Inshallah [God willing] live up to the nation’s expectations.”

Opposition parties in Pakistan -- upset over the government’s alleged delaying tactics in probing money laundering charges following the Panama leaks -- had announced plans to launch a nationwide protest movement against Sharif and his family after Eid al-Fitr.

The government and the opposition in May had agreed to form a 12-member committee to draft the terms and conditions of a commission for probing Panama allegations against Sharif’s family; however, the process broke down after the opposition insisted the process should begin with a probe into the premier's financial dealings first.

“Protests and sit-ins are not a solution to the challenges being faced by the country. The opposition must think about that and join hands with us for the country’s progress and prosperity,” Sharif, who went to London in May last for an open heart surgery, said.

“I still believe there will be a political solution to the stand-off [over demands to probe revelations made in Panama leaks]”, he added.

Sharif remained in London for six more weeks after his surgery after doctors reportedly forbid him from lengthy air travel unless he fully recovered.