Pakistan's former prime minister Nawaz Sharif - whose wish to come out of self-imposed exile and return home in time for the elections has been in the news for some time - has finally booked tickets to reach Lahore via United Arab Emirates on 21 October, reports said.
Sharif, 73, has been living in London for the past four years, media reports said.
A few weeks ago, he was quoted as saying that he is excited to be returning to Pakistan on 21 October to lead his party in the elections to be held early next year.
The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader, who at present is in the UK, is due to fly to the United Arab Emirates and land at Abu Dhabi International Airport on 21 October. From there he is scheduled to fly to Lahore on the same day.
The Pakistani leader, who, according to the reports, had been declared a proclaimed offender, has also asked his party to secure bail for him from the Lahore High Court.
Reports, citing PML-N officials, said his men would approach the court for bail a week before the three-time prime minister returns to the country.
If bail is approved then he would not go to jail on his return and would also be able to address public rallies in the city.
His brother who is PML-N president, Shehbaz Sharif, said during a party meeting last week that Nawaz will "provide relief to the masses, rescue them from the miserable situation and eradicate economic darkness".
Preparations for the proposed political rally at Minar-e-Pakistan to welcome Nawaz Sharif were also discussed during the party meeting, the reports said.
Reacting to reports of his return to Pakistan, Sanjay Kumar Pandey, an expert on local politics, told Sputnik India that in the present situation, Pakistan's army would want more political players to challenge the jailed former prime minister, Imran Khan.
"It's a fluid situation. The Supreme Court is not ready to engage with the army there, and if Sharif decides to come back - even should bail be rejected - he could receive some much-needed sympathy," Pandey said, adding that, however, it was very unlikely he would come back in that case.
"We are not sure when and if elections will be held. Unless the Army is sure they would be able to form a government, they won't allow elections there," he said.