As the country braced for ousted prime minister Nawaz Sharif and daughter Maryam's return to the country and the start of their respective jail terms, politicians belonging to various political parties took to Twitter to react to the PML-N duo's homecoming.
While some political leaders condemned the crackdown by authorities in Punjab on PML-N workers gearing up to welcome their ousted leader, others termed Sharif's return a good omen for the country.
PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari in a tweet criticised the arrest of scores of PML-N workers ahead of Sharif's scheduled arrival, arguing that the "right to peaceful protest is fundamental for democracy".
Understand the legal grounds for arrest of MNS after NAB conviction but on what grounds are workers and leaders being arrested? Why is Lahore under siege ? Right to peacful protest is fundamental for democracy.
— BilawalBhuttoZardari (@BBhuttoZardari) July 13, 2018
Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) leaders Naeemul Haque and Shireen Mazari agreed that the arrest of PML-N workers by the dozen just weeks ahead of the polls will not help anyone.
Haque said the "overreaction" by the caretaker Punjab government to Sharif's arrival reminded him of "what PML-N govt did to PTI workers before every big protest".
"The arrests of political workers on a mass scale coming just before elections can be counterproductive," he wrote.
Over reaction by Punjab govt to Nawaz's arrival reminds one of what PMLN govt did to PTI workers before every big protest. The arrests of political workers on a mass scale coming just before elections can be counter productive .
— Naeem ul Haque (@naeemul_haque) July 13, 2018
Mazari for her part said arresting political workers during the crackdown was "so unnecessary".
Some lessons are never learnt. Arresting pol workers so unnecessary! https://t.co/8ZoNdznZaH
— Shireen Mazari (@ShireenMazari1) July 13, 2018
In contrast, PTI supremo Imran Khan set out on an entirely different dimension to assess the status quo.
He wondered whether it was "mere coincidence" that whenever Nawaz Sharif is in trouble, there is increasing tension along Pakistan's borders and a rise in terrorist incidents.
Beginning to wonder why whenever Nawaz Sharif is in trouble, there is increasing tension along Pakistan's borders and a rise in terrorist acts? Is it a mere coincidence?
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) July 13, 2018
