PML-N electoral victories proof of public support: Nawaz

• Nawaz Sharif says ‘they can’t eradicate us by snatching our symbol’
• Witness fails to satisfy court regarding land documents in Flagship reference 

ISLAMABAD: In an apparent reference to Supreme Court’s decisions against the party, former Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) chief Nawaz Sharif on Monday said the victory in Sargodha by-polls substantiated his stance and should serve as an eye-opener that public reaction will grow stronger in the PML-N’s favour.

Speaking to reporters outside the accountability court, Nawaz Sharif said that “they can’t eradicate us by snatching our symbol”, however, he didn’t specify the ‘they’ which he often evokes in his anti-judiciary rhetoric.

He said that people are now realising that Nawaz’s stance about respecting the vote is correct, adding that the country cannot be treated as a herd of cattle that can be steered in any direction.

The three-time prime minister further said that it was encouraging to see that the people are now revolting, as they should be since their elected leader was thrown out of office by four-five people without reason.

Nawaz was referring to the recent SC ruling according to which a person disqualified under Articles 62 and 63 of the Constitution of Pakistan cannot head a party, hence making Nawaz Sharif ineligible to lead the PML-N.

He stated that people should stand up to injustice as this country is as much theirs as it is anyone else’s. Referring to Saturday’s Senate elections and the allegations of horse-trading, he said that it is crucial to get to the bottom of what’s happening.

Earlier in the day, the accountability court conducted hearing of the supplementary Flagship Investment Ltd references against former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and his family.

During the hearing, Nawaz and Maryam appeared before the court but their counsel Khawaja Haris said his client (Nawaz) was unwell and requested his exemption. On hearing this, the court excused Nawaz from appearing before the court.

After the court allowed Nawaz to skip the proceedings, Nawaz’s counsel Khawaja Haris completed his cross-examination of witness Abdul Hannan, who had recorded his statements at the last hearing.

However, the witness failed to satisfy the court regarding the documents submitted as the land registry documents were without any signature or official stamp.

During the hearing, five more witnesses recorded their statements while cross-examination over their statements was also completed.

Prosecution witnesses Pakistan Television Corporation (PTV) Current Affairs Producer Shah Mahmood, Sub-Inspector in NAB police Lahore Umar Daraz, and Rawalpindi NAB Deputy Director Rizwan Khan will record their statements in the next hearing on March 7, when the court will also hear the Al-Azizia supplementary reference.

In the last hearing on March 1, the Supreme Court had dismissed appeals filed by Nawaz Sharif, Kulsoom Nawaz and Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif related to the payment of wealth tax.

The Sharif family had challenged the valuation of wealth taxes on their various shares in several companies. They maintained in their petition that for four years, the petitioners’ wealth tax was assessed disproportionately to the market value of their stocks.