The younger brother of exiled former prime minister Nawaz Sharif plans to return to Pakistan this month in what would be a high stakes challenge to the powerful military and its political supporters.
A spokesman for Shahbaz Sharif told Reuters from London on Tuesday that Shahbaz Sharif would reach Lahore on May 11 to run Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) (PML-N), one of the main opponents of President General Pervez Musharraf.
"The basic point is that Shahbaz Sharif was sent into forcible exile," spokesman Nadir Chaudhry said. "He wants to come back and clear his name and face the law."
The return of Shahbaz, who faces charges in a murder case, would almost certainly land him in jail or lead to his deportation, party sources say, but they added he was fully prepared for either eventuality.
"The government has constituted some baseless cases against him but Shahbaz Sharif wants to clear his name, and they cannot deport him because he is not wanted in any country," Chaudhry added.
Government officials dismissed Shahbaz's decision to return as a political gimmick, adding that he would have to face the law on return.
"Let's wait and see. There are still a few days before he plans to come," Information Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed said.