ISLAMABAD: Deposed prime minister Nawaz Sharif on Tuesday lamented over a Lahore High Court decision that slapped a ban on airing his speeches where he criticised the judiciary.
Talking to the reporter's inside accountability court, he said, “I have been silenced and so is the case with Geo and some newspapers as well. By the grace of Allah Almighty, all of us will prevail.” Maryam Nawaz intruded and said, “The people cannot see a TV channel of their own choice and cannot say what they want to say. It is like blindfolding the public.”
At this, Nawaz said, “There is a saying ‘there is freedom of speech but I cannot guarantee freedom after speech’,” and said decisions like banning TV, newspapers and others were made only in Pakistan. Nawaz expressed the desire that all forces in Pakistan should work in unison. “Pakistan can only move forward if all forces get united and work together. Otherwise, I am foreseeing a severe unrest and anarchy in this country, Nawaz said.
“When I became prime minister, I emphasised that all forces should get united and there is no need to create tension or friction. We need to forgive others, not for our own self but for the interest of this country. Being the prime minister of this country was never an easy task. We forgave others but this forgiveness should be reciprocated. At the moment, only we are forgiving [others],” Nawaz said.
So much had happened in the country, including the sit-ins, he said, adding, “We forgave but did not make any compromise.” “The way circumstances are going, political leaders being silenced, media being silenced, it cannot go any further,” the three-time prime minister warned.
To a question by this reporter that three terrorism cases about Khadim Hussain Rizvi and Tehreek-e-Labaik Pakistan (TLP), Nawaz said the media should keep an eye on what he called the double standards of the judiciary. What kind of decisions being made against them and what about others, he added.
To another question whether there has been someunderstanding between the TLP and the government, Nawaz said only the government could better explain it. “We never make any compromise on anything. We took big decisions like nuclear tests and it was a very tough decision,” he said.
Senator Mushahid Hussain, intruding into the discussion, said, “We had in the past labelled many patriots, like Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Khan Abdul Wall Khan, as traitors.” But Nawaz said, “Those who are patriots do not require any certification.”
To a question about the apprehensions of Chinese influx and their dominance, Nawaz said, “The Chinese come here in the love for Pakistan. They are also concerned what is happening here in this country. Every now and then the prime ministers are being removed. Five persons removed the elected prime minister. The Chinese have invested billions of dollars here and they are worried about the situation in Pakistan.”
About some people connecting the firing incident at Justice Ijaz-ul-Ahsan’s house with the PML-N, Nawaz said what he could say about that. “These are all old issues.” Talking about the Raiwind road probe initiated by NAB, Nawaz said, “They should now also file a reference against me for the construction of motorway.”
When asked about the PML-N members from southern Punjab who left the party on the issue of a separate province, Nawaz said what use of such talks was when they had to leave the party. “I already said and repeating once again that those who left the party were never ours,” he remarked.
At this, Maryam said, “The PML-N has its own vote bank and it is not the vote bank of opportunists.” To a question about Pakhtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM), Nawaz said the issue should be resolved through negotiations. “One cannot stop someone from protest and no one could be silenced,” he added.
Mushahid also intruded at this point, saying it there could be talks with Tehreek-e-Labaik then why not with the PTM. Meanwhile, the senator kept the courtroom atmosphere alive with his frequent laughter. At one instance, Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry adjusted Mushahid’s tie, to which Nawaz, addressing to Mushahid, in a lighter vein said, “Is it something insignificant that a minister adjusting your tie.”
While going out of the court, Nawaz inquired from Maryam’s counsel Amjad Pervaiz what decision he was expecting. He then himself replied, “If such is a case then there should be acquittal.” “At least this case will establish that we did not commit any corruption even of a single penny,” Maryam remarked.