–Shehbaz says Nawaz doesn’t need formal office to continue guiding people
–PM says ‘those who work are dragged in courts’
–Maryam Nawaz says ‘whenever attempts are made to weaken Nawaz he become stronger’
–Marriyum Aurangzeb says decisions against Nawaz made first, trials conducted later
Following the court’s verdict against Nawaz Sharif, the top leadership of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) expressed solidarity with the former premier, saying he will continue to guide the party and live on in people’s hearts.
Party President and Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif said that a leader like Nawaz Sharif does not need “any formal office to continue guiding his party and serving his people”.
In a series of tweets, the CM commented on the historic Supreme Court (SC) ruling that disqualified former prime minister for life, under Article 62(1)(f) of the constitution.
“Nawaz Sharif is not the name of a person. Rather he represents a philosophy and an ideology of public service, the supremacy of constitution and respect of vote. A leader like him does not need any formal office to continue guiding his party and serving his people,” Shehbaz tweeted.
He further said, “Today is a day of test for the nation when a judicial decision has barred a popular national leader from serving the county who made it a nuclear power and who has the distinct honour of being elected prime minister thrice.”
“We have always believed in the supremacy of law and the neutrality of its arbiters. Despite the judicial verdict, PML-N will continue to be the largest political party of the country under the guidance of Nawaz Sharif,” he said.
‘PEOPLE ARE THE POWER’:
Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi downplayed the verdict, saying, “The decision, at the end of the day, will come from the people.
The PM said that the nations always remember those who work, adding that unfortunately it is “a different case here as another decision came today”.
The prime minister further said that those who work [for the country] are dragged in court and added the country will suffer in the absence of political stability.
‘NAWAZ WILL BECOME ONLY STRONGER’:
Former first daughter Maryam Nawaz said that this was not the first time that Nawaz Sharif had been disqualified or punished, but [still] the former premier “continues to be added, instead of being subtracted”.
Speaking to a gathering in Sialkot, she said whenever efforts were made to weaken Nawaz he emerged stronger than ever.
“Nawaz was disqualified for life; he was barred from heading his party,” the former first daughter said, adding that “he still resides in the hearts of the people.”
DISQUALIFICATION SPAN CASE A ‘CONSPIRACY’:
State Minister for Information Marriyum Aurangzeb termed the verdict a “joke that has already been played on previous prime ministers”.
“This is the same [kind of] decision that led to the hanging of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, to the assassination of Benazir Bhutto and [then] to the disqualification of an elected prime minister [Nawaz],” claimed Aurangzeb.
Marriyum stated that time and again, democratically elected leaders of Pakistan are unceremoniously removed from their post. “All 17 prime ministers of Pakistan have faced a similar fate.”
“This decision is the result of a conspiracy by ‘Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves’,” she added.
Marriyum Aurangzeb further said decisions against Nawaz are made first and trials are conducted later.
“Today’s decision is the same as Nawaz’s trial court case,” she added maintaining that a decision has been made on a trial which is still underway.
Claiming that not a “single rupee’s corruption has been proven against the former premier”, the information minister said, “The case on which Nawaz has been disqualified for life is still underway as is the case which disqualified him from his premiership.”
