Nisar briefs Nawaz on Lahore visit preparations

• Former PM says he’s not in favour of confronting institutions; will uncover the ‘conspiracy’
• ‘Why did Panama case only focused on Sharif family?’

Former interior minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan convened a meeting with former prime minister and leader of the PML-N Nawaz Sharif in Punjab House in the federal capital, sources reported on Sunday.

According to reports, the former interior minister briefed the ex-premier over his Lahore visit scheduled on Wednesday.

This is the first one-on-one meeting between the two leaders after Nisar voiced his reservations and concerns for the leadership in a press conference hours before Nawaz was disqualified on July 28.

Former premier is scheduled to leave for Lahore on August 9 in the form of a rally as was recommended by senior members of the party.

Earlier, Nawaz Sharif arrived in Islamabad from his Murree residence last week where he had moved to following his disqualification.

Reportedly, the former premier convened meetings with different representatives of the party as well, during which he said that he decided to travel to Lahore via GT Road out of workers’ insistence.

He further said that the political party is in no way in favour of a clash with institutions, adding he would uncover the “conspiracy” hatched against him.

Speaking to traders from the twin cities, the former premier asked: “Why did the Panama case only focused on Sharif family.”

“Why those dictators who have violated the Constitution are not being punished? Why those who looted billions from this country are still free?” he questioned, claiming that the masses have not accepted Supreme Court’s verdict against him.

The ousted premier said that PML-N was targeted in the name of accountability. No premier in the past was subjected to the kind of actions he has endured for democracy, Nawaz claimed.

“People had given mandate (to me); civilian supremacy should be accepted,” he added.

The party workers from across Punjab are being mobilised by local PML-N leadership to reach Lahore and other points to welcome Nawaz.

Lahore’s roads were decorated with welcome banners that read: “A leader does not need any post… as he lives in hearts.”

The party has planned to stretch the procession of Nawaz from Islamabad to Lahore over two days, starting from Islamabad on Wednesday and concluding in Lahore on Thursday.

Pakistan Tahreek-i-Insaf (PTI), on the other hand, has alleged use of state machinery in a bid to make Nawaz’s return to Lahore a ‘historic’ event.

Information minister Marriyum Aurangzeb and a delegation of traders also convened meetings with the former premier in Punjab House.

Nawaz Sharif was disqualified under Article 62 and Article 63 by the apex court last month in a corruption case that was lodged by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, Jamaat-e-Islami and Awami Muslim League in October 2016.