ISLAMABAD: National History and Literary Heritage Adviser to Prime Minister, Irfan Siddiqui on Sunday announced that the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President, Muhammad Nawaz Sharif is all set to launch a full-fledged mass-contact drive by next Sunday.
While talking on a show on PTV, he strongly rejected the news reports spreading rumours of Nawaz Sharif’s possible exile, saying that Nawaz Sharif stands tall and would continue doing so.
Responding to a question about the Sharif brother’s visit to Saudi Arabia, he said that those spreading such propaganda, in fact, desired to make news out of their wishful thinking without knowing that the leaders living in the hearts of the people can neither be exiled nor disqualified. “Those feeling inferior to Nawaz Sharif can utter anything they desire”, he added.
Siddiqui drew similarities between Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, who he said was still a political reality despite the passage of several decades of his execution and Nawaz Sharif.
“Nawaz Sharif is going nowhere. The news report of a British magazine is just a feeler carrying no truth,” he remarked.
He said that the ouster of Nawaz Sharif despite having a heavy public mandate was a tragic happening and the continuation of the 70-year tradition was unfortunate.
Siddiqui also said that around two dozen prime ministers were not allowed to complete their constitutional terms due to varying reasons. He observed that Nawaz Sharif was removed from the prime ministerial slot thrice, through a presidential order, martial law and a court verdict respectively.
He further said that this time Nawaz Sharif was not disqualified on charges of corruption, money laundering, factories, flats or any financial embezzlement but for receiving a meagre receivable salary from his son’s firm which he said was false.