Nawaz, Zardari dare Musharraf to return

LAHORE: PML-N President Nawaz Sharif, in an indirect reference to military dictators said the time has come to punish those who violated the Constitution.

Speaking to party leaders and workers on Friday, the former prime minister vowed to bring former military ruler retired Gen Pervez Musharraf, who toppled his government in 1999, back to the country soon. “Time has come to punish those who violated the Constitution and courts will have to be awakened on cases filed against Musharraf,” Nawaz said, adding the former dictator is a coward and making excuses to stay abroad.

The PML-N chief, who was ousted from his third-time premiership by the Supreme Court in July this year over the Panama Papers case, taunted the former military dictator, saying if Musharraf is so brave then he should come to Pakistan and face the cases pending against him, including a treason case. Musharraf has been declared an absconder in various cases. The former president left the country for Dubai last year on the pretext of requiring a medical treatment.

Earlier this week, the former prime minister for the first time since his disqualification claimed that initiation of a treason case against Musharraf by his government is the reason behind his ouster. “Will we see any court hold Musharraf accountable for his crimes,” he had questioned, expressing the hope that it would happen one day.

In another development, Nawaz is likely to leave for Saudi Arabia on Saturday (today) to hold important meetings. His younger brother Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif had arrived in Saudi Arabia Wednesday, while a federal minister left for the kingdom on Friday.