Nawaz says Adiala Jail being readied for ‘special guest’

• Deposed PM accuses three members of JIT of being his ‘worst political opponents’
• Says accountability court was given six months [by SC] not to complete the trial but to send him to jail
• Maryam says cross-examination of Wajid Zia proves JIT report was ‘pre-decided’

ISLAMABAD: Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif on Wednesday claimed that three of the Panamagate joint investigation team (JIT) members were Sharif family’s “worst political opponents” and expressed apprehensions that the Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi was being prepared for a “special guest”, ostensibly referring to himself.

Nawaz, flanked by his daughter Maryam Nawaz, made these remarks outside the accountability court after appearing in the Avenfield flats reference.

He went on to claim that the accountability court was given six months [by the Supreme Court] not to complete the trial but send him to jail.

In an informal talk with journalists, Nawaz said he knows there are reports that preparations are underway to welcome “a special guest.” “How do the jail authorities know that someone is being sent to jail,” he asked.

The ousted premier bashed the JIT members, calling them the worst political opponents besides accusing them and their spouses of being linked with the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). He, however, chose to spare the National Accountability Bureau’s (NAB) representative, Irfan Naeem Mangi, from his list, and kept on with the criticism of the intelligence agencies’ officials on the team.

“My case was not a terrorism case. I was doing nothing against the interests of Pakistan. What was the need to include the ISI and MI in the JIT?” Nawaz questioned.

The cross-examination of Wajid Zia, the JIT head, by the defence counsel of the Sharif family, has “proved our innocence and the impartiality of the JIT”, the elder Sharif claimed.

He said the JIT deliberately ‘concealed’ facts that went in his favour and went on to claim that Zia has given us a certificate of innocence.

Moreover, when a journalist mentioned that Nawaz has always been surrounded by turncoats, he responded: “Committed people are sitting on my left and right and you can see who is sitting beside me now.”

Answering a question pertaining to disgruntled party leader Chaudhary Nisar Ali Khan, the former premier said that everyone knows about Nisar.

Nawaz further said that candidates contesting in next general elections should not be under NAB’s pressure. “I have talked with Prime Minister Abbasi to make NAB law ineffective during interim government’s tenure,” he said.

JIT delivered ‘pre-decided report’:

Speaking to reporters, PML-N leader Maryam Nawaz also echoed the concerns expressed by her father, saying cross-examination [of Wajid Zia] in the Avenfield flats reference has proved that the truth was deliberately being withheld to deliver a “pre-decided” report.

Talking to reporters outside the accountability court, the deposed PM’s daughter said that PTI chief Imran Khan is trying to create chaos in the country “but all of his efforts would be foiled”. She said that those who hatch up conspiracies could not see anything other than a conspiracy.