Tareen scapegoated to save Imran, PTI: PML-N

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz leader and Federal Minister Daniyal Aziz on Friday said Jahangir Tareen was made a scapegoat to save Imran Khan and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and all this was happening as per script.

Aziz's remarks came after the Supreme Court of Pakistan disqualified PTI Secretary General Jahangir Tareen but ruled in favour of Chairman Imran Khan in its judgment in a disqualification case against the two.

Talking to the media, Aziz alleged that political engineering was in play as the apex court said it. Khursheed Shah and Farooq Sattar had said it too. "If the decision had been fair, Imran Khan and the PTI would not be around anymore," said Aziz.

Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzeb said the decision was not surprising. "Nawaz Sharif, during his GT Road rally, had said one law could not have two sides," she said, adding that on the one hand, Nawaz was disqualified on the basis of an Iqama and receivable income, which he did not withdraw, while, on the other hand, the existence of an offshore company and foreign funding did not have any bearing on Imran. She alleged that Imran and the PTI received funds from Jews and Hindus and that money was used to conduct sit-ins and slow down the progress in the country.

Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry said people would decide who would rule them after the 2018 general elections. He said the PML-N was working on the greater agenda of ensuring sanctity of vote. The PML-N always believed in the rule of law and supremacy of people in the country. The PML-N wanted strengthening of national institutions and that they should work within their constitutional domain.

In a Tweet, Maryam Nawaz said the Friday’s verdict by the top court proved that the verdict in the case of PML-N President Nawaz Sharif was unjust. She said the court verdict on Friday proved partial accountability of Nawaz Sharif and that the residential permit (Iqama) was a mere ruse. The only purpose was to oust Nawaz, she said.

Captain (retd) Safdar, unleashing a verbal onslaught on Imran Khan and Jahangir Tareen, said they were ineligible by birth.