- PML-N supremo condemns assassination attempt on Ahsan Iqbal, says elections to be held on time
ISLAMABAD: Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif on Monday condemned the attack on Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal and said it is a matter of concern that the situation has escalated to such an extent.
While speaking to the media outside the accountability court conducting corruption proceedings against the former premier, he said, “An attack on the country’s interior minister is not an ordinary issue. I’m extremely concerned that the issue has reached to such an extent.”
Referring to the earlier payment of Rs1,000 to Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan’s (TLP) protesters after the Faizabad sit-in, Nawaz questioned the reasoning behind the payment and said, “This is what happens when Rs1,000 are distributed among such people”.
Punjab Rangers Director General (DG) Azhar Naveed Hayat Khan had distributed envelopes containing Rs1,000 to the Faizabad protesters.
Responding to a question regarding possibilities of a poll delay following a failed assassination attempt on Ahsan Iqbal, he said they will not let general elections be delayed in the country at any cost.
While referring to the Supreme Court’s order calling back police personnel from security duties of non-essential personnel, he wondered where the minister’s security was at the time of the incident.
‘ACCOUNTABILITY ONLY LIMITED TO POLITICIANS’:
The former premier also questioned the selection criteria of judges and the legislative procedures of the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC). “The parliament must play an effective role for this task,” he said, lamenting that accountability appears to be limited to politicians while other power centres walk scot-free.
“Corruption cases against members of the Pakistan People’s Party have been in the cold storage for years while the ones against him are being rushed without any headway,” he added.
“We will bring change in this after winning the general elections,” Nawaz announced, revealing that Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leaders were approached to change their loyalties. “Those committed to the party did not change their loyalties even when they were subjected to threats, coercion and cases by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB).”
The former premier feared that the litigation he is subjected to was a clear indication for him to leave politics. “The judges of the high court put forward several questions pertaining to our case but no responses were given,” added the former premier.
“The investigators also did not provide replies to questions raised by Justice Qazi Faez Isa. This country belongs to all of us. It is the nation which is the true owner of the country. Enough is enough, it has been seventy years and we have been looked upon as tenants rather than owners,” Nawaz lamented further.
Nawaz also regretted that had the allegations against him been legitimate, the cases would have reached their conclusions in “eight weeks not eight months”.
Noting that this was his 62nd appearance in court, the three-time prime minister wondered how long these cases would drag on as the first extension of the six-month deadline has now passed as well.
The former premier pleaded for the cases to be taken back as “there is nothing in them”.
He also claimed that the witnesses brought by the prosecution failed to provide anything substantial against him and his family with regard to the charges.
TALAL CHAUDHARY CONDEMNS ATTACK:
Separately, the Minister of State for Interior Affairs Tallal Chaudry said, “We will not let extremism thrive in the country.” Separately, the Minister of State for Interior Affairs Tallal Chaudry said his party would not allow a delay in the upcoming elections at any cost.
“Political activity should continue no matter what,” he said while adding that targeting of PML-N is having an adverse effect on the country.
