His decision to undertake electoral activity in Britain has fueled debate over his new role.
ISLAMABAD:
Is Nawaz Sharif making a political comeback? The Gilgit-Baltistan elections, scheduled for June 7, could be the first real answer.
PML-N President Nawaz has largely stayed away from active political campaigning since returning to Pakistan from a four-year exile in October 2023. Although he made a public appearance upon his return, his political role since then has remained largely limited to internal party matters and organizational engagements.
He did not campaign actively in the 2024 general elections, a decision that reinforced the impression of a restricted political presence despite his party’s return to power at the Centre. His absence from the election campaign was not accidental: Nawaz returned from exile with his legal situation still unstable and his history of disqualification unresolved. . Shehbaz, with his closer connections to the establishment and cleaner legal record, was the safer face.
As elections in Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) approach, speculations about the political reactivation of Nawaz Sharif have gained momentum. His decision to undertake electoral activities in the region, as well as his planned visits for rallies and public engagements, have fueled debate over whether this marks the start of a renewed phase of political visibility beyond party management.
The PML-N president is expected to embark on a one-day visit to Britain on Tuesday (today), during which he will meet party leaders and ticket holders, and exchange views on the elections and development priorities of the region.
Senator Pervaiz Rashid, a close aide of Nawaz, said the former prime minister’s engagements in Britain reflect his usual responsibilities as party leader, adding that he continues to fulfill them whenever necessary.
“Whatever responsibilities Nawaz Sharif has, he fulfills them. Earlier, he attended the party’s parliamentary meeting in Azad Kashmir. When the party’s GB parliamentary meeting took place, he also participated in it. Whenever the time comes and his presence is required, as the party leader, he fulfills all his responsibilities,” Rashid said.
On the other hand, according to PILDAT President Ahmed Bilal Mehboob, Nawaz’s active involvement in the UK campaign marks a notable change, as he has generally stayed away from direct campaigns within AJK and GB in the past.
He said the move could indicate an attempt to gain greater political visibility within the party, adding that past political setbacks, including not assuming the prime ministership after the 2024 elections, may have influenced his positioning.
However, Mehboob noted that there is also a practical dimension to Nawaz Sharif’s role, pointing out that the sitting prime minister and federal ministers are legally barred from campaigning, leaving him as the most prominent PML-N figure available to lead the effort.
