Doors to justice closed for Nawaz Sharif: Saad Rafique, Rana Sanaullah

By APP
August 23, 2017

LAHORE: Railways Minister Khawaja Saad RafiqueWednesday said all doors of justice had been closed to formerprime minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif by binding NAB to filereferences against him and his family without following theconstitutional procedure.

Addressing a joint press conference along with Punjab LawMinister Rana Sanaullah Khan and Sharifs’ lawyer Amjad PervaizAdvocate at the Press Club, he said justice should be doneto Nawaz Sharif as per the Constitution.

He appealed to the Supreme Court to review the reservationsof the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz leadership with right to afair trial.

He said the respect of the court was always kept highduring proceedings. Nawaz Sharif and his family appearedbefore courts and the joint investigation team (JIT), thoughthe attitude of the latter was partial, he added.

“The JIT even did not follow a proper procedure.Wajid Zia was its head, but someone else was presiding it,”he alleged.

He said the PML-N though did not accept the decision butit followed the orders to maintain the respect of the judiciary.

“We had reservations regarding the Panama Papers case fromthe start of the proceedings, formation of the JIT, What’sAppcall, two officers from the forces and leakage of HussainNawaz’s picture but the same were ignored,” he added.

The minister said a judge was specially appointed formonitoring the case of Nawaz Sharif and his family.“A perception is being created that Nawaz Sharif and hisfamily is not appearing before the NAB (National AccountabilityCourt) and that they are fleeing from the proceedings, which iswrong as our lawyers are replying every notice of the NAB inwriting,” he said.

He cited that such a practice was observed by the lawyersof former prime minister Yusuf Raza Gilani, who used to appearin the NAB on behalf of their client.

“Both our party and leadership are trustworthy and popular,but such words were used against us which are objectionable,”
Khawaja Saad said.

“We don’t want division in the country,” he added.He said a case which started from the Panama Leaksregarding corruption and ended on “Iqama”, a resident permit.

“We do not want any confrontation with courts or otherinstitutions and not a single violation of law was made in therally led by Nawaz Sharif,” he added.

The minister said public connection campaign wouldcontinue and the next strategy in that regard would soonbe announced.

He said that Chief of Army Staff Qamar Javed Bajwa wasnot part of any conspiracy in person.To a question about appearing before NAB, SaadRafique said that it was not final whether Nawaz Sharif and hisfamily would appear or not before the NAB.

He said that Kulsoom Nawaz was not feeling well and was undertreatment in London so Nawaz Sharif might go there to see her.

To a question, he said that if Parliament could provide anyway out, the PML-N would use that forum.

Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah Khan said thatNawaz Sharif was a popular political leader and millions ofpeople had political affiliation with him.

“Non-provision of basic human rights to Nawaz Sharif isin fact denial of rights to millions of Pakistani people,”
he claimed.

Rana said that it was a long story that Nawaz Sharifdid a lot for the country, including making it a nuclear power.
“There was no logic in appearing before an inquiryofficer whose result had already been announced,” he said.

“This decision was made in a party meeting held at JatiUmra,” he said.The provincial minister said that Wajid Zia remained a
police officer, who did not have any experience ofconducting inquiry.

He did not even conduct any small level inquiryduring his job, he claimed.“Then, how Nawaz Sharif and his family can expect
fair trial,” he added.

“It was a credible information that NAB had died butnow it is being told that it is now doing a speedy work,” hesaid.

He said that it was observed that such a forum didnot fulfill demands of justice, so the case would be putbefore the people.
“Our struggle is for proper justice,” he added.

To a question about Model Town case, Rana Sanaullah saidthat the case was under proceeding in an anti-terrorism court
and if someone had any objection, he could go to the court.

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