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Friday March 29, 2024

Ladla distinguishes my trial from others’: Nawaz

By Muhammad Saleh Zaafir & Faisal Kamal Pasha
January 24, 2018

ISLAMABAD: PML-N chief and former prime minister Nawaz Sharif has lamented that the person who abrogated the constitution and insulted the wishes of the people of Pakistan is enjoying luxurious life scot-free in an Arab country while he (Nawaz Sharif) who paved the way for progress and development of the country is facing fabricated and bogus cases.

He was talking to a group of reporters here in Punjab House Tuesday after appearing special NAB court. About the incumbent chief justice's visits to hospitals, Nawaz Sharif said that he should go to the hospitals but he should also first put his own house in order where grandsons keep appearing before courts for the cases filed by their grandfathers.

Poor people get justice after generations but in my case, it is being provided to me without any inordinate delay. In a lighter vein, Nawaz Sharif said: “I think if my name is affixed with a poor man, he will get immediate justice.”

Nawaz alleged that supplementary references are being filed since earlier references couldn’t be proved and through such actions matter is being dragged on. “It should be bunged up if you couldn’t find any evidence in the case pending before the special court,” he remarked.

He said that it is unfathomable that when no offence could be established why the case is being hanged on. He asked what is the purpose of submitting supplementary reference in an under trial case which has to be finished in six months and four months have already been lapsed? When a reference is nearing completion, another is filed, he regretted.

“Me and Shahbaz Sharif are being targeted through filing of baseless references,” Nawaz said. He reminded that instead of a pat on the back for constructing roads, the question is being asked why the roads have been built! The whole nation understands that what is going on, he added.

He said that people have refused to accept the verdict of the court as it has discarded it. He said: “The whole nation knew from the day one that there is nothing substantial in the case. No corruption or misuse of authority was involved in it.”

He recalled that IMF has just submitted a report about Pakistan in World Economic Forum of Devos that economy of Pakistan is moving ahead of what India has. “The stock exchange was bullish by enhancement of 19 to 53 thousand and increase was recorded when he was the prime minister. The day judgment of the Supreme Court was announced, the country started lagging in economy,” he maintained.

Nawaz said that the media knew the judgment wasn’t fair and the NAB was directed to submit yet another reference against us. The previous references couldn’t produce any outcome and more references are being worked out.

“The whole PML-N is united on the narrative regarding the verdict of the court since the narrative has become the voice of the masses,” Nawaz added. He said the only difference between others’ and his trial is that of a “Ladla” (endeared one). He said that he would speak at length soon about the under-trial cases.

Nawaz also said the “singers” who had joined chorus against him were unknown and out of tune (bay suray).

The former premier also condemned Zainab killing in Kasur and expressed his heartfelt sorrow about the regrettable incident. He stressed that the case must not be politicized. “None expressed sympathy on the incidents of Dera Ismail Khan and Mardan.”

In a separate meeting with the workers and leader of the PML-N, Nawaz said that PML-N will not back off from running the movement for restoration for justice. During the meeting, Nawaz said that NAB team dines out in London with his detractors. The cases against him and his family should be closed because they cannot find any evidence which supports that Nawaz is guilty.

“When will NAB stop its search to find evidence against me?” he questioned. “Now they want to make a case against Shehbaz Sharif. He should be commended for building roads and not being sent references.”

Nawaz said that they haven’t accepted the court’s orders over disqualification and that the nation has also rejected this decision. “The judges who gave the verdict want face-saving now. I was certain that they wouldn’t find anything against me. That’s why I did not challenge the court orders,” he added. International Monetary Fund (IMF) report suggests that Pakistan is 16 points ahead of India and Pakistanis must appreciate that, he said.

Discussing the verdict Nawaz said: “The judges who gave the verdict know that I was not guilty. When they couldn’t find anything they got interim references. I am fighting for the nation and its people. Because of this I am facing a lot of trouble too.”

Talking about Musharraf, he said that nobody has the audacity to bring him back to Pakistan. Talking about the unfortunate rape, killing of Zainab, Nawaz said that it is a horrible and shameful incident for Pakistan and Asma’s case incredibly disappointing too.

“A lot of politics was played over this issue, and that shows that people don’t have a heart for the deceased child.”

Over his quick verdict, Nawaz said that more often than not, the cases are pending for years but his case was heard within six months. Throwing his weight behind Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, Nawaz said that those who wish that Shahbaz parts ways with us are mistaken; no such thing will happen.

He said that during Ghulam Ishaq Khan’s tenure, an attempt was made to move Shahbaz away from the party but that never happened, adding the second time this was done in Musharraf’s era, and now it’s happening again. “But let me remind you this would not happen under any circumstance,” the former premier asserted.

Nawaz conclusively stated that he is not afraid of anything that may come his way, and he assured the audience that the elections would take place on time.

Before Nawaz Sharif, Maryam Nawaz, while talking to reporters, said her family is not scared of courts and jails. The family has seen all the courts in past when common people were scared but now there is no fear among the public.

At accountability court Maryam Nawaz said that if their government is provided an opportunity to work for five full years without being interrupted, they will solve all the problems.

Earlier, the accountability court (AC) recorded two prosecution witnesses in Al-Azizia and Flagship corruption references. A bank official Ghulam Mustafa appeared before the court and told that he has appeared before NAB with a manager operation of the Garden Town, Lahore, branch of the bank (Yasir Shabbir Chaudhry) and provided details about the bank account of Nawaz Sharif and Maryam Nawaz in Al-Azizia/Hill Metal Establishment corruption reference.

NAB Assistant Director Malik Muhammad Uzair Rehan also recorded his statement before the court. He said that the joint registrar of the Securities & Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP), Sidra Mansoor, had submitted record of the companies owned by Sharif family in his presence. She submitted record to the Investigation officer Mehboob Alam. Seizure memo was prepared in his presence. He signed the seizure memo and then the investigation officer recorded his statement.

The statement of Afaq Ahmed, an official in the office of secretary, ministry of foreign affairs, could not be recorded once again due to unavailability of certified documents pertaining to him which were in the custody of Panama case joint investigation team (JIT) and later handed over to Supreme Court. Afaq Ahmed had received a sealed envelope on May 30, 2017 from Pakistan's embassy in Doha that was for JIT head Wajid Zia. The sealed envelope was sent by Hammad bin Jasim, the Qatari prince. Afaq Ahmed handed that envelope over to Wajid Zia and also recorded his statement before the JIT.

During the previous hearing, the AC had written a letter of request to Supreme Court registrar for provision of the documents. For this hearing, the letter remained unanswered, and the prosecution and defence counsel agreed to put off in this matter till January 30 to wait for the reply.