Prospects For Nawaz Sharif After Rejection of Visa Extension
The development has put the former premier in dire straits and he has the option to seek political asylum in case his appeals are rejected
Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N) Chief Nawaz Sharif is in dire straits as the British government has rejected his request for visa extension.
The party chief has exhausted his stay period in the United Kingdom (UK) after he left Pakistan on medical grounds in November 2019 while he was being trailed in different corruption cases.
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In December 2020, Islamabad High Court (IHC) declared Nawaz Sharif a proclaimed offender as he did not return from Britain citing health complications. The court also ordered confiscation of his properties in Pakistan.
However, the former prime minister’s political activities were in full swing during the period.
After completion of his visa period in the UK as a non-citizen, Nawaz Sharif applied for an extension which has been turned down by the British government.
Meanwhile, Nawaz’s passport has also expired and the Pakistani government has refused to renew it.
UK-based legal experts told News360 on contact that Nawaz Sharif still has some options to stay in Britain.
They said that Nawaz Sharif could approach a magistrate within two weeks to appeal against the decision of the home department.
However, the former premier would have to provide concrete evidence against the grounds upon which his visa extension application was rejected.
On failing to get any success, Nawaz Sharif would still have another 14 days during which he could file an appeal with another two magistrates.
Upon exhaustion of all options, PML-N supremo could seek political asylum in the UK.
However, the PML-N leader could stay in Britain until a decision on the appeal is pronounced.
The development has put Nawaz Sharif is in dire straits as apart from the UK, he has the option to go to Saudi Arabia or any gulf country where he enjoys good relations with the ruling class.
But, his passport is still expired and the government has categorically rejected to renew it unless Nawaz Sharif guarantees to return to Pakistan.
Notably, Adviser to the PM on Accountability Mirza Shehzad Akbar had written a letter to British Home Secretary Priti Patel in October last year, seeking his repatriation.
In the same month, Prime Minister Imran Khan said in an interview that he would even talk to British Prime Minister Boris Johnson for getting Nawaz Sharif deported.
#ImranKhan said he is willing to go to the UK if the need arises & speak to @BorisJohnson for #NawazSharif‘s repatriation. Referring to the recent exaggerated #Indian media #FakeReports of a #CivilWar in #Karachi said Their media is hailing Sharif’s as a hero of #democracy#PMIK pic.twitter.com/FaAEeCef8H
— Ghulam Abbas Shah (@ghulamabbasshah) October 23, 2020
Further, Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry in a video message said Nawaz Sharif would have to return the looted wealth anyway and would go to jail as well.
He said that Nawaz Sharif lied to them to get a visa and the Pakistani government and community had demanded the British government to not give refuge to the people who were involved in corruption of billions of rupees.
