Sharif ponders on airline for homecoming

ISLAMABAD: Faced with stiff opposition from the government in Pakistan to his return from exile, the former prime minister Nawaz Sharif is making a calculated decision on the choice of the airline so as to reach Islamabad at the right time, 'neither too early in the morning nor too late in the night'.

Sharif said his party is yet to decide which airline he will take to return to Pakistan on September 10.

"We are looking for an airline which will take us to Islamabad neither too early in the morning nor too late in the night," he said.

"We very much want to travel by our national airline, but perhaps that may not be possible for reasons not under our control," Sharif said.

The chief of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz hinted that he might take one of the Gulf airlines or even the Thai Air and if even that is not available then perhaps Air Blue, which belongs to his party man Khaqan Abbasi, former chairman of PIA.

The Sharifs are said to have also considered chartering a private aircraft for the purpose but finding the idea not feasible abandoned it.

The party is reportedly still engaged in finalizing the list of the party members who would accompany them.

"No other family members are accompanying me besides Shahbaz. Of course a strong contingent of national and international media will be travelling with me," Sharif was quoted as saying by the 'Dawn' daily in a report from London.

He also said that he would not break journey in Islamabad. "We will hit the road to Lahore as soon as we land at the Islamabad airport."