Nawaz all in: ex-PM to appear before accountability court today

— Says he will get a clean chit from court, as they did nothing wrong

— Evolves strategy to deal with NAB references, takes allies into confidence on new game plan

ISLAMABAD: Soon after his arrival from London on Monday morning, former prime minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif spent the day in consultations with his close political aides and legal team at the Punjab House in the federal capital, as he is set to appear before the accountability court today (Tuesday) in connection with the references filed against him by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB).

The former prime minister looked calm and optimist after chairing an initial meeting with close aides, including National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq, Railways Minister Saad Rafique, Senator Pervaiz Rashid, Law Minister Zahid Hamid, PM’s Special Assistant on Aviation Sardar Mehtab Abbasi and others.

Nawaz also met Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and was briefed about the ongoing government policies. Former interior minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, Punjab Governor Rafique Rajwana, cabinet members Abdul Qadir Baloch and Daniyal Aziz and Governor Iqbal Zafar Jhagra also called on Nawaz Sharif.

While most of the cabinet members remained tight-lipped about the course Nawaz Sharif is set to adopt, sources in the ruling party say that the focus of the consultations remained on evolving a strategy to deal with regard to the former prime minister’s appearance before the accountability court. “All legal and constitutional perspectives related to the NAB references against the Sharif family were explored,” the sources said.

Talking to journalists at the Benazir Bhutto Airport, Nawaz said that his family did nothing wrong and he was sure that they would get a clean chit from the accountability court. He also called for calm, saying that the political instability had caused damage to Pakistan. “Situation should be peaceful and improving now,” he added.

The PML-N leaders said that Nawaz Sharif would address an important press conference soon after his appearance before the court. A source in the party told Pakistan Today that Nawaz Sharif had decided to consult his government’s allies to carve out a political strategy for the court matters and the general elections, likely to be held next year, as per schedule.

When asked about the meeting between Nawaz Sharif and Nisar, the source said that there was nothing special in the meeting and everything was a routine. “Yes, there were some complaints expressed from both the sides. Nisar voiced his reservations on the party’s policies. He also enquired after the health of Nawaz Sharif’s spouse Kulsoom Nawaz,” the source said.

Nawaz Sharif was in a meeting with his aides when Nisar reached the Punjab House. Later on, a one-on-one meeting was held between the two, the source said, adding that Nisar reposed his full confidence in Nawaz Sharif’s leadership, but aired his grievances about how the party was being run. Talking to reporters, Senator Asif Kirmani said that consultations within the party continue but rumours about fissures in the ruling family were only ‘wishful dreams of the opponents’.

In the morning, Nawaz Sharif received a warm welcome by the party leadership at the airport, when he landed at the airport after spending few weeks in the United Kingdom. PML-N leaders Ayaz Sadiq, Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif, Defence Minister Khurram Dastagir, Railway Minister Saad Rafique, Senator Mushahidullah Khan, Mehtab Abbasi, Anushay Rehman, Talal Chaudhry and Islamabad Mayor Ansar Aziz greeted him at the airport.

The decision of his return was made in a meeting with Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif who reached London the other day. The chief minister is expected to return to the country by September 30. On the other hand, Nawaz Sharif’s daughter Maryam Nawaz and son-in-law Muhammad Safdar are set to return to Pakistan and have confirmed their seats.

However, Sharif’s sons Hussain Nawaz and Hassan Nawaz will stay in London to attend to their mother. Praising the courage of her father, Maryam Nawaz tweeted that the former prime minister decided to return to Pakistan knowing that what he faces was not accountability.

Talking to reporters before departing for Pakistan, Nawaz Sharif criticised the opposition, especially the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), for claiming that the ousted premier had left Pakistan to escape accountability in the references filed against him. He said that he had only come to London to enquire after the health of his wife.

He questioned the court’s decision of disqualifying him. “We did not commit any corruption. If this was about Panama Papers, then why was I disqualified for holding an Iqama,” he asked and expressed dissatisfaction with the court’s handling of his review petitions. He said that he had never thought of not returning to Pakistan.