The Week India - July 29, 2018

JULY 29, 2018 • THE WEEK 43

NEIGHBOURS

PAKISTAN

REUTERS

NAWAZ SHARIF’S HOMECOMING had all the

drama that elections in Pakistan are known for—

his ailing mother in a wheelchair, hoping to meet

him; and workers out to prove their support for

mian sahib. And there was the former prime

minister and his daughter, clad in pristine white,

surrendering themselves to the authorities. “It is

the price you have to pay for a higher cause,” said

a calm Sharif, surrounded by television cameras

after his fl ight landed in Lahore on July 13.

Ahead of Sharif ’s arrival, around 400 workers

of his Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) had been

arrested. Th ere was a move to censor the live

coverage of his speech and arrest. (Censorship

has cast a shadow on the elections.) Still, the

PML(N) lived up to its promise of holding a show

of strength in Lahore—its sher wasn’t going away

silently.

Sharif will, however, be confi ned to Adiala Jail

in Rawalpindi, in a cell with an “unclean toilet”.

Maryam, his daughter, has chosen to be an ordi-

nary prisoner and not opt for better facilities. Any

chance, however slim, of the duo being allowed

to campaign for their party were dashed early

No one-horse race

Th ough Imran Khan is the clear frontrunner, elections in

Pakistan are likely to throw up a fractured mandate

BY MANDIRA NAYAR

STORMY RETURN

Sharif and Maryam on the

Lahore-bound fl ight from

Abu Dhabi on July 13