Not heard since he returned, says family of Egypt’s ex- PM
Cairo, Dec. 3: The family of former Egyptian Prime Minister Ahmed Shafik said on Sunday it had not heard from him since he was deported from the United Arab Emirates to Cairo on Saturday after announcing his intention to run for President next year.
Mr Shafik, a former air force commander and government minister, has been seen as the strongest potential opponent of President Abdel Fattah alSisi, who is widely expected to run for a second term next year.
His family said Mr Shafik was picked up at the family home in the United Arab Emirates ( UAE) on Saturday and taken by private plane back to Cairo.
A witness from the news agency said Egyptian authorities escorted him in a convoy from the airport. UAE authorities confirmed he left the Emirates, but Egyptian officials have not commented on the case.
“We know nothing about him since he left home on Saturday,” Mr Shafik’s daughter May said. “His lawyer hasn’t been able to reach him. If we was deported he should have been able to go home by now.”
The family and lawyer said they planned to file complaints with the prosecutor’s office about Mr Shafik’s whereabouts.
Egypt’s foreign ministry said it was not responsible for the case. The interior ministry could not immediately be reached for comment.