Nawaz Sharif celebrates Diwali in London; Imran Khan gang says it's to appease Rishi Sunak

As India celebrated festival of lights, Diwali, on October 24, Pakistan's former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, also marked occasion by cutting a cake with his daughter Maryam Nawaz in his London-based office. During ceremony, fugitive Prime Minister, who has been facing multiple corruption cases in his country, was seen with Members of National Assembly Darshan Lal, Saira Tarar, Pervaiz Rasheed, Junaid Safdar, and Anusha Tariq. While greeting Hindu Community in Pakistan and around world on occasion of Diwali, he can be heard saying "Happy Diwali" to members present in chamber.

Though this was t first occasion when Nawaz celebrated festival, supporters of Imran Khan-led Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party linked it with appointment of Indian-origin and Hindu leader, Rishi Sunak as Premier of UK. Some people stressed that Nawaz was t celebrating festival but was celebrating appointment of new Conservative leader. PTI supporters took to social media platforms and dubbed his celebration as fear of being thrown out of country amid Sunak's appointment as head of state. According to critics of Nawaz, he was playing a tactic to please Sunak for extension of his visa.

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Nawaz Sharif: A fugitive leader

72-year-old three-time premier, against whom several corruption cases were launched by government of former prime minister Imran Khan, had left for London in vember 2019 after Lahore High Court granted him four weeks of permission to go abroad for his treatment. Later, he was declared a fugitive by Islamabad High Court (IHC) on June 24 last year for consistently avoiding court appearances in corruption-related cases. Currently, he has been living in exile in United Kingdom after going to country under pretext of medical treatment.

PTI supporters troll Sharif for celebrating Diwali

Meanwhile, some netizens also linked Sharif's Diwali celebrations with killing of a Pakistan journalist in Kenya. "As Pakistan and Pakistanis mourn assassination of Arshad Sharif, Sharif Family celebrates Diwali to please Rishi Sunak, first Hindu Prime Minister of UK whom y need for UK visas and asylum," read a Twitter post. "Lanat ho PMLN walo wesa un ka dawali mana banta b ho (Shame on PMLN as you are celebrating Diwali)," commented ar user. " people of Pakistan are dying due to inflation and this dishonest family is celebrating Diwali in England. se children of Hindus have imposed mselves on us," tweeted a user.

UK gets its first Hindu PM

It is worth mentioning, Sunak, 42, has become first Hindu and first person of South Asian descent to lead country. historical moment is significant for people with Asian roots because it comes during Diwali, five-day festival of lights celebrated by Hindus, Sikhs and Jains. Earlier this year, Sunak, a practising Hindu, spoke about significance of lighting Diwali candles outside official Downing Street residence of Chancellor of Exchequer, post he held for two years until he resigned in July.