LAHORE: Former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, head of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), has renewed his call for accountability for those behind his 2017 ouster and responsible for Pakistan’s “destruction.”
He made these remarks during the party’s parliamentary board meeting held in Lahore on Friday, accompanied by PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif, Vice President Maryam Nawaz, and other party leaders.
Addressing the corruption cases lodged against him and his family, Nawaz emphasized the need to take action against those who initiated what he termed as “baseless cases.”
Highlighting the false imprisonment of party leaders and his own prolonged legal battle, Nawaz pointed to the corruption allegations that emerged from the Panama Papers scandal during his tenure as prime minister. His disqualification for life by the Supreme Court and subsequent cases filed by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) led to convictions in the Avenfield and Al-Azizia references in 2018.
However, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) recently overturned his conviction in the Avenfield reference, while an appeal regarding the Al-Azizia reference is pending.
During his recent address, Nawaz expressed a commitment to serving the nation while urging accountability for those involved in what he alleged was the victimization of PML-N leaders.
Having returned from a four-year self-imposed exile in London in October, Nawaz clarified that his return to Pakistan wasn’t solely to establish a government but also to push for action against corruption and political targeting.
Referencing a purported leaked audio conversation involving former Chief Justice Saqib Nisar, Nawaz mentioned alleged remarks indicating a plan to keep PML-N leaders, including himself, incarcerated to facilitate the victory of Imran Khan, the then-chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), in the 2018 general elections.
Without naming individuals, Nawaz also criticized former PTI chief Imran Khan and labeled the 190 million pounds NAB reference against PTI leaders as the “biggest scam” in the nation’s history.
(Islamabad51_Newsdesk)
