ISLAMABAD: Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif on Saturday questioned whether any court will punish a dictator, and warned that the country could suffer immeasurable loss if democratic order was disturbed and the ongoing game did not come to an end.
He asked where is the court that would run trial of former dictator who ravaged the Constitution not just once, but twice. “Did any court got hold of him and penalised him? Does any court exist that could punish the dictator,” he said while talking to the media after his return from Changla Gali at the Punjab House.
The former prime minister referred to the killing of former governor Balochistan Nawab Akbar Bugti and asked when the responsible for his assassination would be taken to task. “Was anyone punished on the killing and accountability made for the offence,” he asked. It was his maiden interaction with the media since his removal from the office under the Supreme Court order on July 28.
The Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) chairman and Leader of the House in the Senate Raja Zafarul Haq, Hussain Nawaz, Maryam Nawaz Sharif, Senator Asif Saeed Kirmani, Senator Pervaiz Rashid, State Ministers Marriyum Aurangzeb and Anusha Rehman were also present on the occasion.
Without taking name of General (retd) Pervez Musharraf, the former premier said that a dictator who is sitting outside the country is saying that dictatorship is better than democracy. “The fellow couldn’t dare to return home who was also a dictator. Once he comes back, the people will let him know their view about democracy,” he said. Nawaz revealed that Musharraf wanted to sign a deal with him under the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO). He said he was told to meet Musharraf, ostensibly to strike a deal, several times, but he refused to shake hands with him, and instead, he signed the Charter of Democracy (CoD) with late Benazir Bhutto.
“I am willing to even today to follow the CoD in letter and spirit and if there is any need to improve it, I am prepared for that as well,” he added. Nawaz recalled that he struggled for the restoration of judiciary and for that he didn’t care for his provincial government that was thrown under the governor rule.
To a query, Nawaz said that though he knows a lot on the circumstances surrounding his ouster, he wishes to remain silent for now, but “I wouldn’t keep quiet about it forever.” He reminded that he had been doing whatever was in the interest of the country and in the process he had been doing whatever was required. "How could I declare a salary I never received from my son's company?" he asked.
The former premier said that no evidence of corruption could be found against him despite investigation of his father's company records. He warned that the country would plunge into state of anarchy if it "did not walk on the right path," Nawaz said. “Pakistan is right now on its way to prosperity and will continue to grow,” he said. He reminded that the growth rate was slightly above 3 percent in 2013 when his government took over and now it is more than 5 percent which had to go more than 6 percent next year. “In the following years, it would raise even further,” he said. Nawaz Sharif also stressed the need for a political consensus and emphasised the need for unity amongst political parties and recalled that he had accepted the PPP's mandate in Sindh after the 2013 elections. “We could form government after 2013 polls but the PTI was little ahead in votes, we offered it to form government. Likewise, I struck a deal with nationalists in Balochistan to form government and run it despite the fact that the PML-N could have its own government in the province,” he reminded. About the PTI sit-in of 2014 and 2016, the former prime minister said that even during anti-government protests and sit-ins, the PML-N never took an offensive stance. Nawaz said his expulsion from the country after Musharraf's coup in 1999 was a trial for him, but had also taught him a lot. He added that it was important to learn from one's mistakes, but it seemed that the country had learned nothing from the 1971 secession of Bangladesh. He said what happened to him last month was out in the open, and national and international media are both reporting on it.
“If they had found evidence of corruption or receiving kickbacks or embezzling of national funds against me, then it would have made sense,” he said. “I have no reason to misappropriate government funds.”
The former prime minister said that he didn’t do anything that would hamper the country’s growth or create unrest, adding that economy is doing well. “I didn’t lose my nerve and I didn’t disrespect anyone; I’m staying calm,” he said.
Earlier in the day, Nawaz Sharif arrived to the Punjab House where he met party leaders and received a warm welcome by the PML-N workers. Hundreds of party workers came out on the streets chanting slogans in favour of the former premier when he reached entry point of suburb of the federal capital, Bhara Kahu. He was welcomed by hundreds of his followers on his arrival in the capital.
The supporters were running along with Nawaz Sharif’s car from Changla to Islamabad near Bara Kahu showered rose petals on him.
Nawaz Sharif came out of his car at Uthaal Chowk and responded to the PML-N activists by waving his hands. Several supporters were kissing the car of Nawaz Sharif here at Bhara Kahu. Some of supporters also had handshake with their beloved leader when Nawaz Sharif came out from his car. A man’s hand also reached the neck of Nawaz Sharif when he was freely meeting common public in Bhara Kahu.
Sources said security agencies showed concern over the incident. The sources said the security agencies have started searching that man who was trying to put hand on Nawaz Sharif.
Nawaz Sharif told his supporters that he has become an ideologue after learning fair amount of lessons. “I am stanch believer of democracy and tried to preserve it,” he said.
Nawaz Sharif, currently staying at Punjab House Islamabad, later met with Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) head Mehmood Khan Achakzai, Hasil Khan Bizenjo, former interior minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, Prime Minister Azad Kashmir Raja Farooq Haider among others.
