ISLAMABAD: Former prime minister Shehbaz Sharif asked the media on Friday to stop speculating about the return of his elder brother and the founding leader of his political party from the United Kingdom, saying he would fly back to Pakistan and present his economic vision to people later this month.

Pakistan’s three-time prime minister Nawaz Sharif has been in London since November 2019 after securing medical bail following his conviction in two corruption references. The founding leader of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) party remained in self-exile while the country was ruled by the rival political faction of ex-premier Imran Khan.

However, his party leaders announced his return to the country last month, saying he would be back on October 21 to spearhead the PML-N campaign ahead of the next general elections.

“I want to say this respectfully that you should not repeatedly ask this question of whether Nawaz Sharif is returning [to Pakistan] or not,” his brother said during a news conference in Lahore.

“I want to tell you that Nawaz Sharif will return,” he continued. “He will also present his economic plan, the blueprint that he has in mind to change the destiny of this nation, on October 21 at Minar-e-Pakistan himself. It is a program that will help Pakistan rapidly progress again.”

Minar-e-Pakistan is a historic monument built at the place where the country’s founding fathers demanded a sovereign Muslim state ahead of independence and where the PML-N plans to arrange a massive rally to welcome its leader.

Nawaz Sharif and his party have frequently denied all charges against him as politically motivated. Yet, he may have to contend with legal challenges since he was declared an absconder in his absence for violating his bail terms.

His younger brother, Shehbaz, told the media the party’s legal team had given him a go-ahead to return to Pakistan.

He also said that his party leaders would work day and night to change the destiny of the country.