(MENAFN- Gulf Times) Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi has advised former prime minister Nawaz Sharif not to prolong his stay in London and come back to face the trial pending against him in the accountability court.
Sharif and his daughter Maryam Nawaz are likely to return to Pakistan soon, but may seek exemption from court appearance for the next hearing, it is learnt.
Some in the Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) believe that Sharif should stay on in London on the pretext of his ailing wife and skip the court proceedings even if an exemption is not granted.
There is a likelihood that Sharif may face conviction in the trial initiated on the orders of the Supreme Court in the Panamagate case.
Other PML-N leaders, including the new party president Shahbaz Sharif and Abbasi, are of the view that Sharif should return to Pakistan and face trial, regardless of the possible outcome.
During a meeting between the former premier and his successor in London on Sunday, Abbasi is said to have advised Sharif that his presence in Pakistan is necessary to politically boost the ruling party ahead of the general elections.
PML-N leader Ishaq Dar was also present at the meeting.
'(Sharif)'s absence from the country in the wake of his ongoing trial in the accountability court will allow the opposition parties to contend that (Sharif) escaped to skip trial … this could adversely affect our party in the general elections, said one of the aides of the PM, requesting anonymity.
However, a senior leader who is known to be a trusted confidante of Sharif, claims that the former prime minister is in no mood to prolong his stay in London.
'After months of political canvassing, (Sharif) has built a narrative that he is being targeted by discriminatory accountability and he would face trial, come what may.
'But if he skips [the trial] and takes refuge in London, wouldn't it amount to his political annihilation? the senior leader pointed out. 'He is fully aware of the situation and will never allow this to happen.
On Wednesday, the former prime minister, his daughter, son-in-law Captain (retd) Safdar, and some other family members left for London.
The same day, Abbasi landed in London to attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM).
The three-day event (April 18-20) concluded on Friday and Abbasi was expected to return home the same day.
However, he extended his stay to meet Sharif.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan also flew to Britain, to take part in a fundraising event in Manchester that took place yesterday.
The presence of three political bigwigs in the UK gave rise to speculation that something was afoot and that the government and opposition leaders could be trying to hold secret deliberations on the caretaker set-up using 'indirect channels.
Sources have denied this.
On Friday, the Accountability Court accepted the request of Sharif and Maryam for exemption from hearing for one- day (Friday) but dismissed their application seeking exemption from personal appearance for a week.
The court remarked that if required, the accused could file a fresh exemption plea on the next hearing, today.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Abbasi asserted that the PML-N would push forward the slogan of 'sanctity of vote during its election campaign.
Talking to newsmen, he said that the PML-N would contest the election and succeed.
He also said that the name of the caretaker prime minister would be decided by him and Leader of Opposition in the National Assembly Syed Khursheed Shah.
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