Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif Wednesday said that he was returning to the country leaving his wife Kulsoom in Allah's protection.
Speaking at a news conference, the former premier said that he wished to see his wife opening her eyes again, requesting the nation to pray for her recovery.
He said that he was returning "despite seeing a prison cell in front of him."
"I am returning to fulfill the promise of giving respect to vote," Nawaz said, adding that he would not abandon his nation.
He said that he would not stop now whether he was taken to prison or gallows.
Speaking of the Avenfield reference verdict, the former premier noted that it was written in the verdict that Nawaz had been absolved of corruption charges.
"It had to be written in the verdict that no evidence of corruption could be found against me," he said.
"Is there any Pakistani whose three generations had to face such sort of accountability?"
Nawaz said the people of Pakistan once again saw the "real face" of justice. "Having searched in several countries of the world, it had to be written that there was no evidence of corruption [against me]."
He maintained that he respected every institution of Pakistan, noting that he made the country a nuclear-capable state.
"I have immense respect for 'Ghazis' and 'Shuhada' of Pakistani forces in my heart," the former premier said. "The martyrs sacrificed their today for our tomorrow."
He said that they greatly loved these 'Ghazis' and 'Shuhada', and they could sacrifice everything for these sons of the soil.
Nawaz, however, said that he had set out bearing the flag of "give respect to vote."
"I'm coming to pay off the debt of the nation that thrice elected me the prime minister," he said.
