Nawaz, Zardari dare Musharraf to return

Nawaz says former dictator ran from country on pretences; vows to bring him back before law; time to punish violators of Constitution is here; time to wake up judiciary is now

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

Speaking to party leaders and workers, the former prime minister vowed to bring former military ruler retired Gen Pervez Musharraf, who toppled his government in 1999, back in the country soon.

“Time has come to punish those who have violated the Constitution and courts will have to be awakened on cases filed against Musharraf,” Nawaz said, adding that the former dictator was 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 Panama Papers case, taunted the former military dictator, saying if Musharraf was 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 had left the country for Dubai last year on the pretext of receiving 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 was the reason behind his ouster. “Will we see any court hold Musharraf accountable for his crimes,” he had questioned, expressing hope that the same 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.