Sharif loyalists arrested as former PM returns to appeal conviction

PARTY activists loyal to Nawaz Sharif, the ousted prime minister of Pakistan, have been held in night raids as police prepare to arrest him on his return to the country tonight.

More than 100 people were arrested in Mr Sharif ’s stronghold of Lahore, where he has called on crowds to greet him when he flies in from London.

His Pakistan Muslim League (PMLN) party has said it will mobilise supporters but government officials say he will be arrested as soon as he lands.

Mr Sharif was last week sentenced in his absence to 10 years in jail for failing to declare how he bought flats in Park Lane, London. His daughter and likely political successor, Maryam, was sentenced to seven years.

Both vowed to return to appeal and though neither can stand in the July 25 general election, the PML-N hopes their appearance can galvanise a campaign which has seen the party lose ground to their rivals, led by Imran Khan, the former cricketer. Mr Sharif has suggested that the investigation of his affairs after the Panama Papers leak linked his family to offshore companies was a ploy by enemies in the powerful military establishment.

PML-N officials said the overnight mass arrests were aimed at breaking up its party machinery as it tried to bring out crowds for tonight’s rally. Police said about 100 activists had been held “to avoid violence”, but the party said the number was closer to 500.

Mr Sharif ’s younger brother Shahbaz, who now runs the party, demanded all detainees be freed.

There has been speculation that Mr Sharif’s plane will be diverted or that he will be quickly arrested to avoid a show of support at Lahore airport.

Authorities were last night setting up barriers formed of shipping containers on key roads towards the airport to stop Sharif supporters getting there. Around 10,000 police officers will be deployed across Lahore to maintain order.