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NAB officials all set to ‘welcome’ ousted premier with summons issued by anti-graft court for Nov 3
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Embattled PML-N chief says has not shied away from legal battle, despite wife’s illness
LONDON: As ousted premier Nawaz Sharif said Wednesday he’s returning to Pakistan to appear before the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) courts, even though his ailing wife needs him by her side the most, the Bureau is all set to “welcome” the PML-N president at the Benazir Bhutto International Airport.
The NAB has written a letter, a copy of which is available with Pakistan Today, to the airport officials seeking access to ousted PM’s plane.
The letter read that an accountability court had already issued bailable warrants against Nawaz, who had to appear before it on November 3.
NAB Additional Director (Staff) Muhammad Wasif Bhatti requested the authorities to allow the anti-graft bureau’s officials and vehicles to use the airport premises and enter the plane.
After arriving in Pakistan, Nawaz will chair a meeting of party’s top leadership at 6pm. His daughter Maryam Nawaz is going to travel to Islamabad to participate in the meeting.
The former premier, talking to Geo News, declared that he was ready to face any court and didn’t shy away from facing the “Whatsapp JIT” and the Supreme Court bench.
Earlier, he brought his wife Begum Kulsoom Nawaz to the Harley Street clinic for her second chemotherapy session, and said that doctors have told him that he should stay by his wife’s side, giving her as much time as possible, as she needs attention and care.
The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) president said that it was his duty as a husband and companion of over 40 years to be by her side while she is undergoing treatment for throat cancer until she is fully well and recovered. But, he continued, in respect of Pakistan’s judicial system he was appearing before the courts, “despite knowing too well, that the accountability process is a political sham aimed at executing further revenge, not justice.”
“My personal family issues on one side, I am going to Pakistan to appear before the NAB court on November 3,” he said, adding it was not for the first time that he and his family have been dragged through the courts.
“We have faced sham trials before but never ran away and face accountability time and time again; we faced with valour the Whatsapp JIT; we have faced with courage the Supreme Court bench that called us ‘Sicilian Mafia’ and ‘Godfather,’” said the former PM.
He added the fact that he was ousted on the basis of an Iqama (work permit) and not Panama demonstrated that the JIT failed to find anything against him, and also that there was nothing in the Panama Papers case which could be linked to him.
Nawaz said despite not liking his disqualification decision by the Supreme Court, he acted upon the court’s orders and surrendered before the law of Pakistan.
He stressed that he didn’t resort to using a delaying tactic or running away from the courts under any pretext.
He said he has yet to comprehend why this whole exercise in the name of accountability has been rolled out against him.
‘I WAS OUSTED USING IQAMA’:
He posed a string of questions: “What’s the scandal that I have been involved in? What’s the issue? What’s the charge sheet against me? What is the case of assets beyond means against me? What’s this whole drama in the name of accountability? Is this NICL scandal? Is this NACTA scandal? Is this the Hajj scandal? Or is this IPP scandal?”
After the questions, Nawaz then explained that his assets and resources were established and set even before he was born.
“If the question is, that how do I have means and resources then it’s clear that my assets and means were established since 1937, before I was even born.”
“When nothing was found in Panama against me, I was ousted using Iqama. I am shocked and saddened that this drama has been staged because it is Pakistan that has suffered and continues to suffer,” he lamented.
Nawaz Sharif, calling Panama verdict a ‘joke’, said that no one, including his support base, has accepted his iqama disqualification.
“Through these references, efforts are afoot to make sure that something should be found against me through these references and cases, under the supervision of a Supreme Court judge, to vindicate the Panama verdict of disqualification which has caused them embarrassment. These references are to avoid that scenario (of more embarrassment),” he explained.
Nawaz Sharif said that cases against him and his family have been “framed” but he expressed his belief that history will view these cases for their true worth, aims and objectives, which are political.
He said he served Pakistan with full dedication and the results are there for all to see. He said it’s to his government’s credit that the biggest issues of Pakistan—load shedding and terrorism—have been effectively dealt with.
Responding to a question, Nawaz recalled the state the country was in when he took power after the 2013 elections.
“Pakistan was under attack at that time, [but] we turned it around through our policies. Now cricket matches are being played in Pakistan, international cricket has returned.
“Inshallah, soon there will be zero shortage of electricity in Pakistan, load shedding is about finish completely, we built motorways across the length and breadth of Pakistan, ended terrorism from Pakistan and introduced policy in 2014 aimed at rooting out this scourge, we took the decision of launching operation to end militancy and unrest in Karachi.”
Nawaz Sharif said that his ouster on Iqama caused instability in Pakistan, and the stock market has gone down, economic reserves have come down and the economy overall has taken a big knock—because economic progress and stability is linked with political continuity.
Meanwhile, talking to reporters in London, Nawaz’s brother and Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif said that the former PM will land in Pakistan on Thursday.
“We will not respond in kind to any misbehaviour,” he said, after being informed about the NAB’s move to seek access to Nawaz Sharif’s aircraft.
He also said that Ishaq Dar will also return to Pakistan and face the cases against him.
Earlier, on October 26, the accountability court had issued arrest warrants against Nawaz Sharif for not appearing before the court and had adjourned the hearing until November 3.
