Nawaz Sharif upholding his principles, says Bilawal after jail visit

1
212

–PPP chairman urges PTI govt to improve medical facilities being provided to former PM

–Says he received no hint of a ‘deal’ during his meeting with PML-N supremo

–Criticises Finance Minister Asad Umar for ‘hypocritical politics’, calls him ‘parha likha jahil

–Maryam thanks Bilawal for ‘thoughtful gesture’ 

 

LAHORE: Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on Monday called on the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government to improve the medical facilities being provided to incarcerated former prime minister Nawaz Sharif in Kot Lakhpat jail.

Bilawal visited Nawaz in the Lahore jail between 2-3pm to inquire about his health. The Bilawal-led PPP delegation comprised Hassan Murtaza, Qamar Zaman Kaira, Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar, Jameel Soomro, among others.

Bilawal was allowed to meet Nawaz in accordance with the jail manual and regulations, reports said.

Talking to reporters after meeting Nawaz, Bilawal said that he was upset at finding the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo “very ill”. On behalf of PPP, he said, “I request the incumbent government to provide him with the best treatment up to his demands.”

“Every human has some cultural values despite having political differences, while our religion teaches us to inquire about the health of a person who is suffering from a disease,” he added.

He hoped that Prime Minister Imran Khan and his government make a decision on “humanitarian ground” for keeping a heart patient “under pressure and stress is akin to torture”.

He reiterated that he was only visiting to inquire about his health. But being politicians, he said “we did touch upon the Charter of Democracy that he signed with my mother Benazir Bhutto in 2006.”

He lamented that the charter wasn’t being implemented properly.

Speaking of Nawaz’s intention to go abroad, Bilawal said that from his meeting, he received no hint of a “deal”.

“He is upholding his principles and does not appear to be willing to make a compromise,” Bilawal said.

He said that Nawaz is an ideological political and doesn’t want to compromise on his principles. Moreover, he referred to his father and former president Asif Ali Zardari who “spent 11 and a half years in jail” and it was insinuated each time that “he has struck a deal with then-military dictator Pervez Musharraf”.

When asked, Bilawal remarked that he would be interested in meeting Maryam Nawaz Sharif but “at the right time or when it would be appropriate to do so”.

Following the meeting, Nawaz’s daughter Maryam thanked Bilawal for his “thoughtfulness and kind gesture” that “meant a lot to me”. “Prayers and every good wish [for you]. God bless,” she added.

‘ASAD UMAR IS HYPOCRITICAL’: 

Bilawal also spoke of Finance Minister Asad Umar and called him a “parha likha jahil”. He questioned that Umar, who criticised him for speaking English on the floor of National Assembly (NA), did he speak Urdu or English in the company [Engro] that he used to work for”.

“It isn’t clear if Umar was criticising me or Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi,” Bilawal said. “For Qureshi spoke more English than I did.”

He added that the finance minister “had an issue with me using the name Bhutto”. “PM Imran through a notification slashed his father’s name, someone should tell Umar that I write Zardari in my name along with Bhutto.”

“Umar should not indulge in hypocritical politics,” he said.

Bilawal lashed out at Prime Minister Imran Khan, saying that his speech in Thar was not appropriate in accordance with the current scenario. He urged to maintain such environment which promotes unity among the nationals.

On Sunday, Bilawal had said that his meeting with former prime minister has nothing to do with politics but it is to demand better health facilities for the ex-premier.

Chairing a meeting of PPP’s parliamentary members of Punjab, Bilawal said that there was no political agenda behind his meeting with Nawaz Sharif. He said that former prime minister Nawaz Sharif’s illness should be treated seriously.

FUTURE COURSE:

Bilawal announced that the PPP will initiate contacting “pro-democratic political parties” and many developments will be made in future regarding the implementation of the Charter of Democracy.

He said, “Ideological people in ruling PTI would be welcomed if they step forward to contact us.”

The PPP chairman confirmed that his party was in contact with PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif and other leaders.

Bilawal said that his grandfather, mother and other members of his family gave sacrifices for democracy. He added that the ruler of law can only prevent a common man from any kind of injustice. The PPP chairman said that he was expecting from PML-N to play an active role in ideological politics.

1 COMMENT

Comments are closed.