Former Chief Minister Punjab Hamza Shahbaz has left for London on a private visit where he would also meet his uncle and PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif, the media reported.
According to the details, Hamza Shahbaz left for London via a private airline. He will meet Nawaz Sharif – who is living in London since 2019 and has not returned since – and give a briefing regarding political happenings in the Punjab province. Hamza Shahbaz will also meet his other family members living in London.
Important to note that Hamza Shahbaz left for London days after he was ousted as the Chief Minister of Punjab. Following his ouster – which was a major defeat for PML-N – his rival Chaudhry Parvez Elahi became the chief minister of Punjab.
Read more: ECP summons Hamza Shehbaz after he promises free electricity
Hamza Shahbaz’s visit comes as a special court in Lahore fixed September 7 as a date for his indictment with his father Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif in the Rs16bn money laundering case.
Interestingly, Shehbaz Sharif and Hamza filed pleas for exemption from today’s hearing with the latter citing a backache while the former said that he was busy in Islamabad with regard to official affairs, the media said.
Hamza Shehbaz off to London on private visit https://t.co/1lWjbDSjFi pic.twitter.com/GVNpFTB2lG
— 24 News HD (@24NewsHD) August 4, 2022
Asif Zardari in Dubai
Earlier, PPP Chairman and former President Asif Ali Zardari left for Dubai suddenly, that too after Hamza Shahbaz’s ouster. Important to note that due to Asif Ali Zardari’s meeting with PML-Q leader Chaudhry Shujaat and the subsequent controversial letter, Hamza Shahbaz initially won the Punjab Chief Minister election.
Asif Zardari’s sudden departure to Dubai became controversial as claims emerged that he ran away, however, his daughter Bakhtawar Bhutto said that Asif Zardari has arrived in Dubai to celebrate his birthday with his grandson, Mir Hakim.
Read more: Video: Pervaiz Ilahi says Zardari plan doomed to fail
Later, it was revealed that the former President tested positive for Covid upon landing in Dubai but his symptoms were “mild”. According to a tweet from Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, his father tested positive for the virus but is “fully vaccinated, [and] boosted”.