Former PM Sharif ‘must return to Pakistan to face corruption case’

Pakistan’s ailing former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has to return home from the UK by Sept. 10 to face a corruption hearing or risk being declared a fugitive from justice, a court in Islamabad has warned.

Sharif, who is facing several separate cases in Pakistan, claims he has been politically victimized.

According to The Associated Press, Tuesday’s warning came as the court in Islamabad considered Sharif’s request that he be exempt from personally appearing at the Sept. 10 hearing.

The court said it wanted to give the former premier time to appear in court before declaring him a fugitive.

Sharif’s daughter Maryam Nawaz insisted her father would return home only after recovering — or when his doctors permit him to travel.

She said Sharif would not unnecessarily stay in London, The Associated Press reported.