Sharif departs for London after meeting top aides at airport

Islamabad : Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif left for London from Lahore’s Allama Iqbal Airport on Wednesday for a routine medical check-up days after the Panama Papers’ leak exposed his family’s offshore dealings.

Before his departure, Sharif held a meeting with Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali, Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif and other senior aides to discuss the current political situation in the country and also implications of the Panama Papers scandal, reports the Dawn.

A massive leak of 11.5 million tax documents on April 3 revealed secret offshore dealings of world leaders and celebrities, including three of his children for owning London real estate through offshore companies.

Asif Kirmani, the PM’s political secretary confirmed that Sharif’s visit was a personal one and he would not any political meetings during his stay in London.

Sharif’s daughter Maryam Nawaz tweeted, “My father reverently kisses my grandma’s hand as she surrounds him with prayers for his health before seeing him off.”

Meanwhile, President Mamnoon Hussain left for a three-day visit to attend an Organisation of Islamic Cooperation conference in Istanbul. (ANI)