ISLAMABAD, April 29: Shahbaz Sharif would return to the country soon, despite the government's 'panicky propaganda', acting parliamentary leader of PML-N Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan said while speaking at a meeting of his party's office-bearers and members of national and provincial assemblies here on Thursday.

Chaudhry Nisar said a date for the PML-N president's landing at Lahore had been 'fixed' and seats for journalists travelling with him had also been reserved. However, he did not mention the date. He urged party workers and supporters to give a rousing but peaceful welcome to their leader.

The PML-N leader said the ARD had appreciated Shahbaz Sharif's decision to return. "Nawaz Sharif and Shahbaz Sharif have not committed any crime, but usurpers of power are afraid of them," he remarked.

Chaudhry Nisar said the return of Shahbaz Sharif would also expose the government's claim of a 'deal'. He said the country was passing through difficult times, because the ruling clique was fighting for its own interests, instead of national interests.

He said time would soon come when 'betrayers' of Kashmir and 'killers' of Muslims in Wana would have to give account. He expressed the confidence that patriotic people would foil all conspiracies against the unity and solidarity of the nation.

Mohammad Asghar adds from Rawalpindi: Meanwhile, officials of law-enforcement agencies have started checking passengers of international flights landing at Islamabad and other airports in the wake of intelligence reports that the PML-N president may arrive any time, a security source told Dawn on Thursday. A similar exercise was carried out at Lahore airport, the source said.

Police commandos were deployed at Islamabad airport on Wednesday midnight amid rumours that Shahbaz Sharif might arrive some time in the night, the sources said. The district police officer, Rawalpindi, Syed Moravat Shah, went to the airport at least three times on Thursday, the source said.

It is being speculated in government circles that Shahbaz Sharif may arrive along with his family as they have got their seats booked on PK-786, scheduled to arrive at Islamabad airport at 7.45am on Sunday. Shahbaz Sharif's family is likely to join him in London before their departure for Pakistan, the source said.

Authorities are also working on a tip-off that the PML-N chief may try to travel to Pakistan via Moscow or Muscat. In a related development, the DCO Rawalpindi, Hamid Ali Khan, held a meeting with senior officials to devise a plan to cope with the situation if Shahbaz Sharif landed at Islamabad airport, the source said, adding that the FIA immigration authorities had also been put on alert at airports.