ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Maryam Nawaz, daughter of deposed prime minister Nawaz Sharif, said on Thursday that every “so-called” democratic government should complete its tenure, no matter how weak it may be.
While talking to reporters outside the Accountability Court she further remarked, “that is how democracy will be strengthened in the country.”
She claimed that media was sensationalising the reports of differences within the Sharif family, which were completely baseless.
She remarked that her brothers Hasan and Hussain Nawaz would answer the accusations against them, themselves.
While answering a question on “VIP accountability”, the ousted prime minister’s daughter asked how this could be termed ‘VIP accountability’ if her father’s disqualification was questionable, and they were appearing in courts despite her mother’s ill health.
In an apparent reference to former president General (r) Pervez Musharraf, she said that ‘VIP accountability’ is when the vehicle turns halfway owing to the back pain [of the accused] while going to the court.
She also questioned the ‘hasty’ justice being meted out to Nawaz Sharif and his family.
Earlier, Maryam Nawaz, the former prime minister’s daughter, and her husband MNA Capt (r) Safdar reached the accountability court separately on Thursday in connection with the graft reference that has been filed against them by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB).
Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif skipped Thursday’s court hearing, as he continues to remain outside Pakistan.
The References:
The accountability court is hearing graft cases filed by NAB in light of the Supreme Court’s order on July 28 in the Panama Papers case.
The references against the Sharif family pertain to the Azizia Steel Mills and Hill Metals Establishment, their London properties and over dozen offshore companies owned by the family.
NAB’s Rawalpindi branch prepared two references regarding the Azizia Steel Mills and Hill Metals Establishment, and the nearly dozen companies owned by the Sharif family.
Its Lahore branch prepared a reference on the Sharif family’s Avenfield apartments in London and another against Finance Minister Ishaq Dar for owning assets beyond his known sources of income.
If convicted, the accused may face up to 14 years imprisonment and lifelong disqualification from holding public office including the freezing of bank accounts and assets.