Nawaz baffled by connotation of term ‘anti-judiciary’

• Nawaz terms LHC ban on his speeches ‘uncivilised’ 

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif on Tuesday questioned the connotation of the term ‘anti-judiciary’ and asked the court to define the term clearly.

The former premier was referring to recent Lahore High Court’s (LHC) verdict that temporarily barred TV channels from airing alleged anti-judiciary speeches by Nawaz Sharif, his daughter Maryam Nawaz and 14 other senior PML-N leaders.

Speaking to reporters outside the accountability court, the former premier said that everyone has a right to dissent and added that “uncivilised restrictions cannot be placed in the country”. Such verdicts are only delivered in Pakistan, he said and called for an end to curbs on media and individuals.

He went on to add that he had time and again stressed the importance of respecting the Constitution, law and people’s mandate. I kept on speaking about the rights of 220 million people, he said. How can one deprive them of their rights, Nawaz said.

‘OLD MISTAKES SHOULDN’T BE REPEATED’:

The three-time prime minister said the world has changed and so should we. “Old mistakes should not be repeated.”

“Elected governments made historic decisions, including the atomic tests, which were conducted by the civilian government,” said Nawaz.

Nawaz said he does not regret moving on. “We moved on but did not compromise. The other side should have moved on too,” he asserted, terming unfortunate the dharnas (sit-ins) carried out in the country against his government.

He questioned the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) inquiry into the widening of Raiwind road, leading to Nawaz’s residence, and quipped that a probe should also be launched into the motorways and nuclear tests as they were completed during the PML-N tenure as well.

Talking about the government’s plan to merge the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, Nawaz said the tribesmen should get their rights.

‘THOSE WHO LEFT US WERE NEVER OURS’:

Referring to recent waves of defections within the party, the PML-N supremo said those who left us were never ours. In addition, Nawaz’s daughter Maryam said the PML-N has a dedicated vote bank which is not seasonal.