FOR more than 24 hours Twitter has been abuzz with users around the world wondering if former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and his daughter would be taken into custody in Abu Dhabi, their whereabouts at Abu Dhabi International Airport or if they would actually land in Lahore. Photos of Maryam Nawaz shopping at Boots and taking selfies at the duty-free went viral as reporters from several local and foreign media organisations tried to trace the father-daughter duo.

Mr Sharif and his daughter were sentenced in absentia last week for 10 and seven years respectively by the accountability court in the Avenfield properties case. In response to the Sharifs return, the Punjab government beefed up security in Lahore which upset many people on Twitter.

Maryam Nawaz, an avid social media user who tweets @MaryamNSharif, kept the mystery alive by sharing a video shot on their London-Abu Dhabi flight and later a photo with her father at an airport lounge. She retweeted videos shared by party supporters and sympathizers of PML-N workers preparing to greet them at the airport.

Commenting on the situation, Pakistan Peoples Party chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari tweeted: “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.”

Trolling the former prime minister from the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf posted: “It’s Friday the 13th but definitely a good omen for all of Pakistan. This is the day the renowned money launderer Nawaz Sharif returns and will hopefully be arrested for his ill-doings. #DekhoDekhoChorAya.”

Mr Sharif’s brother and former chief minister of Punjab, Shahbaz Sharif tweeted: “Visiting various areas of Lahore now around midnight. The city is reverberating with roars of lions. A forerunner of mood ahead of Mian Nawaz Sharif’s arrival. Can they beat this passion? Btw this is Bhatta Chowk.” Bolo Bhi director Usama Khilji was annoyed that the Sharifs return was causing the province to shut down phone networks. “Network shutdown announced from 3 to 11 pm in Lahore as former PM Nawaz Sharif returns. This is a gross violation of the fundamental right to speech & information protected by Article 19 & 19-A of Constitution. Citizens have a right to assemble & communicate. #KeepItOn #Pakistan,” he tweeted.

Journalist Murtaza Ali Shah from London tweeted: “Media reporting that NAB wants to arrest @MaryamNSharif and Nawaz Sharif on Abu Dhabi airport and will then escort them to Pakistan. That’s not possible under international law, NAB cant carry out arrests inside Etihad’s plane, arrest possible only in Pakistani territory.”

Popular Twitter account @BajiPlease said: “Sharif family is going through really tough times. Sick wife battling cancer, and father, daughter and sons impeached. Yet they are coming back to fight their case. If Londoners and Pakistanis can please abstain from physical and verbal attacks. Thank you.”

Multimedia journalist Alia Chugtai tweeted: “Kuch ho na ho - @EtihadAirways ke free promotion bahut ho gayee hai.” While @Shobz replied: “People will be like “we want to fly with the captain who brought the chor to Pakistan”.

@KaalaKawaa said: “Thesis Statement: Yes, the Sharifs stole. They are returning to PK precisely to be arrested. They’re over. Given that they’re returning to be arrested why this aggressive heavy handedness? Should the SC start an Adult Diapers fund for all our “Institutions” shitting themselves?”

Around 8.30pm, many people also shared screenshots from different flight tracking apps to find out if the plane would land in Lahore or Islamabad. Once the flight touched the landing strip, a Twitter user said: “Landed! ... into trouble I’d say #NawazSharif #MaryamNawaz #PMLN #SherAyaSherAya #Pakistan”

BBC reporter Secunder Kermani tweeted about how he managed to interview Mr Sharif while waiting at the airport:”Just conducted a surreal press conference with Nawaz Sharif on the phone — he’s in a airport lounge in Abu Dhabi but apparently security won’t let reporters come in — so we huddled around a phone (in a different lounge) with the speaker on, top lines of what he said coming soon.”

Mastung

A deadly blast at a corner meeting in Balochistan’s Mastung district was also trending on social media on Friday evening.

PTI chief Imran Khan said: “Another condemnable terrorist attack on a political gathering - this time in Mastung. Saddened to learn of Nawabzada Siraj Raisini’s shahadat in this targeted attack as well as the shahadat of 15 other innocent citizens.”

Mphil student Ayaz Ahmad tweeted: “This is the exact reason why we have progressed as much that crooked and certified looters are all over our national televisions. This is pathetic. #Pakistan #Mastung” While another Twitter user said: “Death of over ninety innocent people is being over shadowed by the home coming of a certified chor.”

Awami National Party’s Bushra Gohar said: “More than 70 citizens dead, scores injured & channels are showing #TalibanKhan’s stupid speech with music. No concern for the lives lost & their families. Height of callousness & insensitivity. Shame! #Mastung”

Another Twitter user shared images of the blast site and said: “May these images stay with us forever.”

Germany’s Ambassador to Pakistan Martin Kobler said: “Profoundly shocked and deeply saddened about the news of the #MastungBlast #Mastung. Media speak of 80 victims. My thoughts are with the families who lost their beloved ones! What a tragedy! Terror must not prevail.”

The British High Commissioner Thomas Drew also tweeted: “A terrible day. We join our Pakistani friends in our thoughts for the victims of these cowardly attacks and in condemning their perpetrators. No one can be allowed to thwart the country’s democratic process. #Mastung #Bannu.”

Published in Dawn, July 14th, 2018