Nawaz seeks reversal of Panama case verdict

Former PM says judges diverted from their oath and supported dictators

LAHORE: Former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Friday sought the reversal of Panama case verdict that led to his disqualification, saying that he has been fighting for country’s democracy and people in courts.

He said this to a gathering of lawyers after attending the All Pakistan Lawyers Convention at Aiwan-e-Iqbal in Lahore on Friday.

Recalling the role lawyers played in the movement against Pervaiz Musharraf, the former premier lauded the members of the legal fraternity for being at the forefront in their struggle against dictatorship and said that they need to play their part again for justice in the country. He also connected with the lawyers by saying that both of the country’s founders – Allama Iqbal and Muhammad Ali Jinnah – were lawyers.

He said that lawyers ran a movement and ‘sacrificed’ their lives so that the country may be free of dictators. “Your movement against dictatorship served all the people of the country, not just a small-group,” he added.

Clarifying his stance to the audience, he said that even though his name ‘was not in the Panama Papers’ he still took the responsibility and presented himself for accountability by the courts as soon as the papers were leaked. He alleged that at that time nobody responded to his request, and later the process was prolonged over wrong reasons.

He said that the lawyers better understand the technicalities involved in the verdicts given on April 20 and then later on July 28. He then questioned the aspects of the July 28 verdict of the case which led to his disqualification under Article 62 of the Constitution.

Questioning the role of investigation agencies in the Joint Investigation Team (JIT), the former premier asked why the intelligence agencies were part of the investigation team when their role is limited to national interest. He argued that no such precedents exist where these agencies have been involved in such matters.  On these grounds he termed the investigation ‘suspicious’ against him and his family members.

He went on to say that “he did what was asked of him and stepped down from the seat.” But he has not accepted the decision whole-heartedly and nor has the nation, he claimed.

He pointed out that such verdicts are unjust and they have negative effects on the justice system of the country and added that he is not concerned about the effect it will have on him, but the precedent it will set in the country.

Recalling the rule of dictators and dismissal of civilian governments in the country, he asked what his crime was, and then answered: “That I didn’t take a salary from my son’s company.”

Recalling his GT road rally, he said that the support of people has given him strength and hope, adding that the people have given their decision and they’re angry.

The former PM also said that the ‘disease’ needs to be identified and a treatment should be prescribed for it. He also said that the sanctity of the ballot box needs to be established.

Lashing out at the judiciary, he alleged that the courts have been condoning the dictators and allowing changes to the Constitution and added that some judges diverted from their oath and supported dictators. No dictator has been punished for abrogating the Constitution, he added.

The former PM’s speech comes just a day after the Lahore High Court (LHC) ordered the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) to stop broadcasting and publishing speeches of former PM Nawaz Sharif, Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif and 14 others, in which they have expressed sentiments against the judiciary.