Pakistan’s ex-prime minister and daughter to be airlifted by anti-corruption watchdog to prison

Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif disembarks from his helicopter at the newly built airport in Islamabad during his tenure, which ended by judicial ousting on July 28, 2017, disqualifying the three-time premier for life. (REUTERS/file)

• Three helicopters mobilized to take former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his daughter Maryam Nawaz to jail
• Sentencing will be at Rawalpindi Central Prison

ISLAMABAD: Two helicopters have been parked at Lahore airport to transport Nawaz Sharif and his daughter Maryam Nawaz to prison from the Allama Iqbal International airport on Friday where the two are expected to land confirmed NAB official to Arab News late Thursday evening. One Helicopter is deputed at New Islamabad International Airport.
Reports, however, suggest that one helicopter has been stationed at Noor Khan air base in the garrison city of Rawalpindi. 
The helicopters have been deployed at the request of the country’s National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to meet the two, who are scheduled to arrive on an Etihad Airways stopover flight from Abu Dhabi originating from London.
Sharif and Nawaz arrived at Abu Dhabi accompanied by close aides escorted by an airport security official, shows a social media video posting on Nawaz’s twitter account.
“What I could do and what I could have done, I did”, said Sharif on board the flight in a video message while heading to Pakistan stressing upon his commitment to return.
“I know I have been sentenced and will straight be sent to a jail cell but I am doing this for the Pakistani nation – this sacrifice is for the nation’s future generation – therefore please support me” urged a humbled Sharif.
Shahzad Saleem, director general of the NAB in Lahore, submitted a formal request to the anti-graft watchdog’s chairman (retired) Justice Javed Iqbal to approve and direct higher authorities to provide helicopters for the two, anticipating the challenge the NAB team would face on Pakistan Muslim League–Nawaz’s (PML-N) home turf.
Thousands of Sharif supporters are vying to turn up to greet Punjab province’s most prominent political figure. Fear of clashes between law enforcement and his supporters run high. Though the security establishment has taken preventive measures, conducting raids and crackdowns on the PML-N workers to maintain law and order, the influx of Sharif’s supporters attempting to pour into Lahore from other cities could plunge the city into chaos.
Sharif and Nawaz had earlier announced their flight schedule arriving at 6:15 p.m. local time at their bastion city on the Middle East commercial carrier from traveling from London, where the father and daughter stayed hoping for the revival of Sharif’s comatose wife Kulsoom Nawaz, who is suffering from cancer.
The verdict against the former first family was handed down in absentia. 
“They (the Sharifs) are accompanied by up to 250 people on board that plane, which will make the job of arresting them difficult,” an officer at Pakistan’s prime intelligence agency told Arab News. There are several journalists traveling with the two however exact number of Sharifs’ supporters could not be independently ascertained.
In a statement to Arab News, the anti-graft watchdog said: “NAB will ensure Nawaz Sharif and Maryam Nawaz will be arrested. Anyone obstructing justice, creating obstacles for their apprehension, will be dealt with strictly in accordance with law.”
The NAB had written to the Interior Ministry, which arranged the two helicopters from the Federation’s Cabinet Division, an Interior Ministry official told Arab News on condition of anonymity.
“Two NAB teams will be stationed at Lahore airport and two at Islamabad (at its new international airport), the NAB official said. 
An interior ministry official told Arab News, “The helicopters are those under official use by ministers and the prime minister”.