CJP shouldn’t have said ‘PM came to me’ either, says Nawaz

–PML-N supremo says if Chief Justice Nisar had used the word ‘faryadi’ for PM, ‘he should stand by it now’

–Says Gen Musharraf may stay away from treason proceedings but ‘he will have to face the music one day’

ISLAMABAD: Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif on Friday continued to criticise Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Mian Saqib Nisar’s remarks over his meeting with Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, saying if the Supreme Court (SC) chief justice had used the word ‘faryadi’ (complainant), he should stand by it now.

Talking to journalists outside the accountability court conducting corruption proceedings against him, Nawaz said, “Such words do not befit the chief justice or anyone else. To say that he [PM] came to me [CJP] also does not sit well.”

He was referring to the reported CJP’s remarks during the hearing of a case wherein he had said his job was to listen to the pleas of every ‘faryadi’ (complainant).

“The prime minister came with a plea, and it is my duty to hear everyone’s requests. I didn’t go to the PM House or the Secretariat. They came to visit me,” Chief Justice Nisar was quoted as saying.

Later in the day, the top court had sought to clarify the controversy that had arisen after Nisar reportedly called Shahid Khaqan Abbasi a ‘faryadi’, saying the top judge had not used the word for the premier.

The rebuttal given by the CJP on March 29 categorically stated that the attribution of using the word ‘faryadi’ by the media for the prime minister is “completely wrong and malicious”.

The CJP’s reported comments were met with criticism from the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), as Nawaz Sharif said that PM Abbasi could seek an explanation from Chief Justice Nisar over his remarks.

‘MUSHARRAF WILL FACE THE MUSIC’:

Speaking about the treason case against former military dictator Gen Musharraf, Nawaz said Musharraf may well stay away from the proceedings and remain an absconder, but he will have to face the music one day.

“I know one thing. Musharraf’s trial will reach its logical conclusion [one day]. Everyone will be held accountable at all costs. Times have changed,” he said.

Referring to the recusal of Justice Yahya Afridi, who headed the bench hearing treason case against Musharraf, the PML-N supremo said, “these things happen in such cases”.

Talking about the corruption cases against him, Nawaz reiterated the ‘bogus’ allegations, saying, “they are saying ‘assets assets’ but if there’s a corruption allegation then they should prove it.”

Meanwhile, Maryam Nawaz, daughter of former premier Nawaz Sharif, said on Friday that the money trail the Sharif family had provided was turned into evidence against them.

She said this following her appearance before an accountability court which was hearing corruption references against the Sharif family. When asked by the media as to why they were not submitting the documents explaining the flow of money that had been used to set up various businesses by the Sharif family, she said that they had submitted the money trail.

“The money trail we provided has been turned into a stack of evidence against us,” she said.

Asked whether she was a beneficial owner of Sharif family’s London flats, she said, “At first, it was said that Maryam Nawaz is the owner of London properties but then, in the supplementary reference, Nawaz Sharif was named.”