‘No personal enmity’: Nawaz calls on govt to facilitate Musharraf’s return

Maryam says PM Shehbaz-led government will provide relief to people regardless of current state of economy

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif on Tuesday called on the coalition government to facilitate his political adversary and former military ruler Pervez Musharraf’s return to Pakistan from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on account of his poor health.

“I have no personal enmity or animosity towards Pervez Musharraf. I don’t want anyone else to suffer the trauma I have had to endure for my loved ones,” said Nawaz, who like Musharraf, has spent the past few years in self-exile.

Their relations had frayed in 1999 when Nawaz was the prime minister and his government was overthrown by Musharraf – the then army chief.

Musharraf’s family had clarified on Friday that he was not on a ventilator but had been hospitalised for the last three weeks.

The family had issued the statement after false news of his demise started circulating on social media.

The retired general’s illness came to light in 2018 when the All Pakistan Muslim League (APML) – Musharraf’s party – announced that he was suffering from amyloidosis.

Amyloidosis is the name for a group of rare, serious conditions caused by a build-up of an abnormal protein called amyloid in organs and tissues throughout the body. The build-up of amyloid proteins (deposits) can make it difficult for the organs and tissues to work properly.

Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on Saturday had also expressed support for the notion of Musharraf’s return, saying that there should be no obstacle to his coming back.

Asif said on Twitter that “past events should not bear in the matter” and prayed for the former military ruler’s health so he could live his remaining life with dignity.

Separately, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Maryam Nawaz on Tuesday said regardless of the current state of the economy, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif-led’s government would provide relief to the people at all costs.

“There is no doubt that the last four years of incompetency and sheer neglect have done everything possible to ruin the national economy, but the people have faith in PM Shehbaz Sharif and we will not disappoint them,” she said in a tweet.

Regardless of the devastation caused by the Imran-led government to the economy, the people would be given relief at all costs, she added.