Hopes of Nawaz’s opponents diminished after his return: Marriyum

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister of State for Information, Broadcasting, National History and Literary Heritage Marriyum Aurangzeb on Monday said that the return of former prime minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif and his daughter Maryam Nawaz from London by leaving the medically Begum Kulsoom Nawaz to attend the accountability proceedings nullified hopes of the opposition.

Talking to media persons outside the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) court, the minister said whenever Nawaz Sharif goes abroad, the opponents of PML-N feel happy and express the view that he would never return.

She pointed out that exemption had been granted to Imran Khan time and again who was facing a case of terrorism and attack on the parliament and PTV headquarters.

On the contrary, she said, the ex-prime minister and his daughter were denied exemption to attend Kulsoom Nawaz who is admitted in a London hospital. It is a violation of fundamental human rights, she claimed, adding that every law invariably takes care of such rights.

She said that the allegations levelled against Nawaz Sharif by the head of Panama JIT Wajid Zia in the Avenfield case had been shot down during the cross-examination by the lawyer.

Marriyum said that entire Pakistan was witness to the fact that Nawaz Sharif and Maryam Nawaz have returned from London in deference to the law and constitution to attend the court proceedings and the opponents cannot say anything about it.

She said that the opponents were not doing politics but were hiding behind exemptions.

‘IMRAN SHOULD REVEAL WHO GAVE ORDERS’:

 Talking to the media representatives after visiting the PEMRA Council of Complaints, Marriyum said that Imran Khan needed to reveal to whom he sold his Senate vote and on whose orders he did not turn up to cast his vote.

The minister said that he must be asked as to how Chaudhry Sarwar mustered 44 votes and who cast their votes for him. The answer to that question must be provided to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) also, she added.

Replying to a question, she said that Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and the leadership of Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) were on one page regarding misgivings in the Senate elections. The statement by Siraj-ul-Haq had endorsed the PML-N apprehensions and Imran Khan by announcing the names of the PTI MPAs had also reinforced them, she added.

Marriyum said that Punjab had taken the lead in raising the voice against those who sold their votes.