After a bit of hemming and hawing, the return flights have been announced. Clearly, 2018 is different from 2000; jail under a military dictatorship is different from imprisonment under a civilian set up.

But the journey ahead is not a smooth one.

In the courts, the legal battle will be fought. The short-term political battle will mean winning an election (or as much as can be won) on a pitch that is far from even.

Apart from the election woes, there is also NAB. Working at ‘Shahbaz speed’ already.

The PML-N may be Nawaz Sharif’s party but it’s been built on the delivery model shaped by both the brothers. Maryam will also have to deliver, the way her father-uncle team have.

The train ride ahead promises to be bumpy but Nawaz Sharif and his daughter can’t afford to hop off.

Read the full op-ed here.