Lodhran election: ‘People responded to revenge accountability’

ISLAMABAD: Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif on Tuesday said the people of Lodhran have given a befitting reply to revenge in the name of accountability.

Talking to media persons outside the Accountability Court of Islamabad after hearing of his corruption references, Nawaz Sharif said the PML-N is talking about the sanctity of vote and now people across the country understand this message. “Everyone, whether living in cities or rural areas, understands our narrative,” Nawaz Sharif said.

The PML-N president said supplementary references would not have been filed had there been any strength in the cases against him. From these supplementary references, he said, it became clear that there is nothing in these references.

In the supplementary references, he said, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has repackaged or rephrased the previous allegations. “Had there been any truth or evidence in the main reference, there was no need for the supplementary references,” he said, adding, “Those who directed formation of these references, they want me to get convicted in anyway but this is just revenge in the name of accountability.”

Nawaz Sharif said the public was fighting his case for which he salutes them. Addressing the journalists, he said media persons are witnessing practical examples of sanctity of vote.

Nawaz Sharif avoided a question about Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan's statement that he doen't want to work under the leadership of children. He said that he was not afraid and was facing the allegations. Referring to former president Pervez Musharraf, Nawaz said those who are taking revenge from him should also have a look at the person at whom first a case was formed and then no real proceedings were initiated against him. “They even did not let him get arrested. He has now escaped from the country. This is the person who twice imposed martial law in this country. He even arrested the judges but they are not least bothered. He was neither convicted for his crimes nor any contempt of court proceeding was initiated against him,” Nawaz said.

Nawaz said people like him who did major development works like construction of motorways, ending loadshedding and terrorism etc are facing the wrath. “Now we are being pressed and there is no action against those who abrogated the Constitution and arrested the judges,” he said, adding, “They should tell if it is beyond their capacity. These double standards cannot work anymore.”

Responding to a question about the Charter of Democracy, the PML-N president said there is no need to ink another such agreement. “If the previous charter was acted upon, the situation would not have been like this. The politicians should think as to what direction they are taking this country,” he said.

Minister of State for Information Marriyum Aurangzeb, while talking to the media, said the Lodhran by-election proved the public trust in the PML-N. She said the election results rejected the politics of anarchy and chaos.

Nawaz Sharif’s son-in-law Captain (retd) Muhammad Safdar said Lodhran has once again proved how much people trust Nawaz Sharif. Earlier, the accountability court adjourned the hearing in the corruption references pending against Nawaz Sharif and his children after Amjad Pervez, counsel for Maryam Nawaz, told the court that Pakistan Bar Council (PBC) has announced three days of mourning over the death of renowned lawyer Asma Jahangir.

He said that Nawaz Sharif’s counsel Khawaja Haris was also there to attend the funeral. The court adjourned the hearing till February 15. The court also fixed the date of hearing for the recording of evidence of two British nationals through video link from Pakistan's High Commission, London. The court would record the statements of Robert W Radley and Akhtar Raja on February 22.

Meanwhile, Nawaz Sharif, Maryam Nawaz and Captain Safdar filed applications seeking two weeks exemption from personal appearance before the court from February 19. The court would examine these applications on February 15. The applicants said that they have to attend the ailing Kulsoom Nawaz, who is undergoing cancer treatment in London.