Iftikhar Chaudhry again out to serve Raiwind: Fawad

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Information Secretary Fawad Chaudhry castigated ex-CJP and head of Pakistan Justice and Democratic Party Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry who according to him had again come out to serve Raiwind.

Speaking here at a news conference, Fawad charged that Iftikhar Chaudhry wanted to grab spotlight in politics by slinging mud on Imran. He continued that ex-CJP under an agreement with PML-N had formed a panel of justice Khalilur Rahman Ramday and Sher Dil to rig 2013 elections in favour of Nawaz. Fawad alleged Iftikhar came out with same card which Begum (Reham) surfaced earlier but her film flopped before coming out.

Fawad claimed that Nawaz had promised Iftikhar Chaudhry to make him president after his retirement but later he reneged on that and this led to Iftikhar Chaudhry’s brief tirade against Nawaz. However, he was once against in the open in the service of Raiwind just ahead of general elections. “And now after the flop drama of Reham Khan, Iftikhar Chaudhry is out to malign Imran. He said that Iftikhar’s son worked as an agent to mint billions and the media and people are witness to all this,” PTI information secretary maintained. He said that Arsalan Iftikhar’s case should be reopened.

About corruption cases against Sharif family, Fawad pointed out that Imran had nothing personal against Nawaz and the Sharif family; there were certain allegations against them, like allegation of sending abroad Rs300 billion looted from Pakistan and another charge was of having more assets than their income and there were allegations of money-laundering and corruption.He emphasised such matters must be taken to their logical conclusion and justice should be seen being delivered. Already, he noted that 134 days were spent at the Supreme Court with regard to the Panama case and now nine months at NAB courts. He continued the reason of Nawaz not being punished was his delaying tactics through his lawyers.

Fawad decried what he called the sluggish trend adopted by the caretaker government with regard to the 60-day election process, and noted that they had written to the interim prime minister and the Election Commission about the key posts in Punjab and Sindh, still occupied by the chosen people of the former rulers.

He wondered in their presence at the district level, how the elections would be held in a transparent manner. He called for early transfer of district administration in both provinces while Tuesday was the last day of scrutiny.

Asked about reports of striking seat adjustment with PML-N dissident Ch Nisar Ali Khan, he put aside such reports and said that there would be no seat adjustment with him and PTI would contest the elections with ‘bat’ as its election symbol.

Earlier, he wished early recovery of Begum Kulsoom Nawaz and said that the entire party prayed for her well-being and on Imran’s instruction, the president of PTI Britain chapter had visited her at the hospital and presented a bouquet on Imran’s behalf.

Meanwhile, PTI decided to review the lists for reserved seats after complaints poured in, in writing and through social media, objecting to enlisting of certain names. Imran will now himself thrash out the new list. Similarly, the party’s parliamentary board will also have meetings Monday and Tuesday to take up objections on nominations from Punjab and Sindh.