LAHORE: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) senior leader Ahsan Iqbal has claimed that a forensic report has verified authenticity of the controversial video in which judge Arshad Malik purportedly could be heard saying he was pressurised into convicting former prime minister Nawaz Sharif.
Iqbal was referring to media reports, claiming that the Punjab Forensic Department has validated the authenticity of the controversial video, which resulted in the suspension of judge Malik.
Earlier this month, PML-N vice president and daughter of the former premier, Maryam Nawaz unveiled a controversial video of the judge alleging that her father was wrongly convicted by the accountability court.
“After the verification of the video, there is no reason to keep Nawaz Sharif behind bars and it has been established that he was convicted under duress,” said Iqbal while addressing a press conference on Saturday.
He also demanded of the chief justice of Pakistan to direct the government to release the PML-N supremo immediately and compensate him for his unlawful conviction.
An accountability court in December, 2018 had sentenced the former premier to seven-year rigorous imprisonment after it found him guilty in Al-Azizia reference.
Iqbal also said that the PML-N condemns the arrest of former premier Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, adding that it was due to the efforts of Abbasi that the country saved billions of rupees for the national exchequer.
Iqbal said that the current government is doing nothing for the public. “Put us in jails but provide electricity, gas and sugar to the nation. The inflation rate is going to be highest in the 72 years of Pakistan’s history and a million people are unemployed due to the government’s policies,” he added.
He said that the party members would raise their voices in the assembly despite non-issuance of production orders for some members.
“The Senate chairman should have resigned after a no-confidence motion. Fake cases are being made against PML-N workers but our party will not let Imran Khan become Hitler,” he said.
He concluded by announcing that the PML-N would observe July 25 as black day and public rallies would be conducted in Lahore and Islamabad while a rally will also be held in Peshawar on July 25.
