Former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif along with his family left Prime Minister House without receiving any farewell guard of honour, here on Sunday. Instead of going to his Raiwind house, Sharif opted to go to Himalayan foothills Murree - known as Malika-e-Kohsar - where he owns a sprawling grand house. The sources said that he would preside over meetings regarding recent changes in the power corridors as well as his future line of action as the top court had put a lifetime ban on him.
Sharif, the third-time prime minister, was removed unceremoniously for the third time without completing his five years constitutional tenure in the office. In 1993, he was sacked by the then president over graft allegations, while in 1999, he was ousted in a bloodless military coup by then military chief General Pervez Musharraf. He has been elected Pakistan prime minister three times, twice elected chief minister of Punjab and now he has been ignominiously disqualified from seeking any political office.
Though Sharif has been disqualified from taking part in active politics, PML-N insiders insisted that he would remain the king maker as long as the party is there. "Minus-Nawaz Sharif, there is no PML-N. We respect the court orders but no one can replace Mian sahib," said a senior PML-N leader who wished not to be named. Also facing criminal charges for corruption are Sharif's two sons Hussain and Hassan Nawaz, his daughter Maryam Nawaz and her husband Captain Muhammad Safdar (rtd). Cases are also ongoing against his brother Shahbaz Sharif, who is currently Punjab chief minister and has been named the next prime minister by Nawaz Sharif. Sharif shook hands with the staff of the PM House. One of the staff who declined to be named said: "Obviously, we all felt upset as we have been living with him for the last four years. Frankly speaking, it was not a good day for all of us, as we didn't expect his [Sharif] departure like this."
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