Former Pakistani PM Nawaz Sharif to contest for 4th term in upcoming elections

• PML-N officially declares Nawaz Sharif as their consensus candidate for the upcoming parliamentary elections
• Nawaz Sharif, previously disqualified and facing prison sentences related to corruption charges, had his convictions overturned on appeal
• The parliamentary elections are scheduled for February 8, where the new prime minister will be elected by the parliament after the vote

The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) officially announced on Wednesday that former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif would be their consensus candidate for the upcoming parliamentary elections.

Disqualified in the Panama Papers case by the Supreme Court of Pakistan in July 2017, Sharif returned to Pakistan in October after spending four years in self-imposed exile in London to avoid serving prison sentences related to corruption charges. With his convictions overturned on appeal, Sharif is now eligible to participate in the parliamentary elections scheduled for February 8.

The new prime minister will be elected by the parliament after the vote, and Rana Sanaullah Khan, a senior leader in Sharif's party, confirmed Sharif's candidacy, stating, “Nawaz Sharif is our candidate for the office of the prime minister.”

On Tuesday, the returning officer of National Assembly-130 Lahore accepted Nawaz Sharif's nomination papers for the upcoming general elections after thorough scrutiny revealed no objections. Sharif is set to face competition in NA-130 from Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) stalwart Dr. Yasmin Rashid and 22 other candidates.

Additionally, Sharif has submitted nomination papers for NA-15 Mansehra, awaiting acceptance by the local returning officer. Voluntarily stepping down as prime minister in 2017 amid corruption allegations, Sharif's political comeback signals a significant development in Pakistan's political landscape.