Daily Times

KARACHI: Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Co-Chairman Asif Zardari is returning to the country from self-exile after an interval of 18 months, as his plane will arrive at the Karachi airport’s old terminal today (Friday).

Zardari will be arriving in a special plane from Dubai that is likely to land at 3:30pm, a source said on Thursday.

The former president abruptly left the country on June 25, 2015 after a hard-hitting discourse in which he lashed out at the military establishment for overstepping its domain. Warning the establishment to refrain from character assassination of political parties in the same speech, Zardari had said, “If you do not stop, I will come out with a list of accused generals since Pakistan’s creation.”

His return will give the PPP a political advantage to break a deal on Bilawal Bhutto Zardari’s four demands to the Nawaz Sharif government. It was earlier indicated by PPP kingpins that Zardari would put weight on the treasury to fulfil the four demands, and added that his arrival would change the country’s political scenario.

The PPP is focusing on democratic accountability after the Panama Papers exposed many in the country, including Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and members of his family.

The PPP is optimistic about building a strong opposition before the general election in 2018 under the party co-chairman against the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N).

Meanwhile, arrangements have been finalised and security put on high alert in the proximity of the old terminal where Zardari will address a large gathering of PPP workers. The security planners were also mulling over options to take the former president to the Bilawal House – by road or by air using a helicopter – but the family members would make the final decision in this regard.

On the other hand, the Karachi leadership of the PPP has also finalised all arrangements for their leader’s homecoming. No roads would be blocked for Zardari’s arrival, the traffic police said in a statement, adding that they had finalised all arrangements and announced an alternative traffic plan to ensure the smooth flow of traffic during and after the rally.

Around 1,000 volunteers from the PPP will assist the traffic police, as the rally is expected to stretch from Star Gate to the old terminal.

It is also expected that a large number of PPP supporters would arrive in rallies at the airport to welcome their leader. All vehicular traffic will be diverted at some points to avoid congestions for commuters, the traffic police informed.

Asif Ali Zardari will leave for Larkana on December 25 for the death anniversary of his slain life partner and former prime minister Benazir Bhutto on December 27.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said he was glad that the PPP co-chairman was returning to the country. During his visit to Bosnia, Sarajevo, he further said “I am actually very happy that Zardari is returning to Pakistan.” He also hoped that the former president would keep “his party’s” control in his hands.