Nawaz Sharif does not need any NRO: Maryam

•  Plus, minus formulas emerged because Nawaz’s ouster failed to achieve its purpose, says daughter

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Maryam Nawaz has said that Nawaz Sharif does not need any NRO and those discussing it should disclose the name of the second party.

Talking to Geo News on Wednesday, she said that since the disqualification of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif failed to achieve its purpose, the narrative surrounding plus and minus formulas have emerged. She said that despite many attempts by their enemies, PML-N President Nawaz Sharif has been disqualified but not discredited, adding that a man on the street knows more than she does; the nation knows everything.

Maryam also cleared the air regarding the alleged rift in Sharif family, claiming that Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif is the most intelligent member of the family, and he has been her hero since childhood.

Discussing former interior minister Chaudhry Nisar asking the party members to refrain from criticism, she said that she understands that Nisar made the remarks in sympathy with the party.

However, she added that she doesn’t understand the dynamics of getting justice in the country, saying: “If you criticise, you won’t get justice, but if you don’t criticise, will you then get justice?”

‘I WAS ALSO TARGETTED IN DAWN LEAKS’:

“What is the standard of justice,” she asked. “Our point of view is that there lies anger on the other side and the verdict [disqualification of Nawaz] was announced in haste.”

She claimed, “Panama case was not about corruption, money laundering or misuse of power. Just because the names appeared on the Panama case it didn’t mean that those people were necessarily involved in corruption or any wrongdoing.”

“We were also openly labelled as ‘don’, ‘Sicilian mafia’ and ‘Godfather’. Everyone saw the murder of justice in the court,” she added.

However, this was used as a basis to bring humiliation to Sharif family, she said, adding, “We were asked private questions such as ‘why does daughter live with her father? Why did a father give gifts to his daughter? Why did a son give money to his father?’”

Regarding cases against her, she claimed that she was targetted because she stood in between the attacks launched against her father.

“I was also targetted in the Dawn Leaks,” she said, explaining “one of the central characters who involved me in Dawn Leaks has met his fate.”

‘MIAN SAHAB HAS ALL THE OPTIONS’:

Discussing her father, she said he compromised on many things for the sake of country’s progress, adding, “He doesn’t want the system to be harmed.”

“Personally speaking, I think, Mian sahab should not have compromised,” she remarked. “He should have put his foot down.”

However, Nawaz’s willingness to compromise was “seen as a weakness” and external forces tried to use this against him, she said.

Regarding options available to former PM in the current political scenario, Maryam said: “Mian sahab has all the options. He doesn’t even require National Reconciliation Ordinance.”

When asked if Nawaz has no fear of being jailed, she remarked: “We have been there and done that.”

She also said that Sharif family has time and again been blackmailed with National Accountability Bureau references, imprisonment, Dawn Leaks, among others.

MARYAM ABOUT ZARDARI:

Discussing Pakistan Peoples Party’s Co-Chairperson Asif Ali Zardari’s remarks against Nawaz, she said: “I am in a fix regarding his statements.”

She also shared that it’s not in her position to contact Zardari over the matter. “I can’t call him; it’s not my position to contact him.”

“We have leaders such as Shehbaz and Nawaz to take this decision,” she explained. “I am not making policies nor am I responsible for their enunciation.”

On NA-120 by-election, in which PML-N prove to be victorious, she explained that her cousin Hamaz Shehbaz could not campaign with her as he had to leave Pakistan due to some “personal reasons.”