Nawaz says south Punjab defectors were a ‘disgrace’ anyway

• Nawaz Sharif says powers responsible for making people ‘disappear’ are engaged in heinous crimes 
• Terms Imran Khan a ‘bad omen’ for political setup of country

ISLAMABAD: Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, while commenting on the recent defections, stated that the party members who jumped the ship were never a part of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), in fact, they are a breed that only brings a bad name to politics.

On Monday, eight PML-N legislators resigned from the party announcing a mass movement, Junoobi Punjab Sooba Mahaaz, for the purpose of a separate south Punjab province.

Speaking to media after accountability court hearing, Nawaz Sharif said: “The party knew about these people … they joined a dictator when he was in power and in the democratic period, these people joined the PML-N.”

Nawaz took a jibe at ex-leaguers, saying perhaps something has dawned upon the recent group of politicians who had bidden farewell to the PML-N. He said that those who recently formed a party in Balochistan were also of the same category: ones who have nothing to do with the PML-N and its ideology.

“These people are those who did not vote for me for party president,” Nawaz said further, claiming that “we had our eyes on them [for a while]”.

He said his younger brother and Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif carried out record development work in south Punjab and Lodhran by-election victory was a reflection of confidence in the PML-N and its development work.

Nawaz further said they were hopeful that the people of the province will vote for the party in the upcoming general elections.

He said nine seats of Punjab province were reduced and PML-N accepted it in the national interest, adding all parties should do politics of principles. He said court decision in the graft cases against him must be based on justice.

He lamented the PML-N leaders were subjected to anti-corruption investigations even after serving the country for years while those who remained busy in “minting money” were given country-wide tours. He went on to term Imran Khan’s entry into politics a ‘bad omen’.

The PML-N leader also expressed concern over the growing incidence of missing persons, saying that those responsible for the issue were engaged in heinous crimes. “Will the families and children of the missing persons ever spend peaceful lives?” Nawaz questioned.

“I feel anguished to imagine the feelings of the bereaved families, who have no clue whether or not their loved ones are alive,” he concluded.

Maryam Nawaz said those who carried out development work in the country were being dragged in courts. She said the PML-N completed development projects like Neelum-Jhelum powder project, which was kept pending by the previous governments.