ISLAMABAD: Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, a former prime minister, talked about the fairness of Pakistan’s politics before the general elections and compared the current situation to when Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) came to power in 2018, which his party, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), criticized as unfair.
Speaking to reporters outside the accountability court in Islamabad, Abbasi mentioned his connection to the party when asked about talking to Nawaz Sharif, the party’s leader. He said they hadn’t communicated and stressed that it wasn’t needed.
Abbasi also repeated that he won’t take part in the upcoming general elections on February 8, 2024. This decision is notable, especially after he left his party position when Maryam Nawaz became its senior vice president and chief organizer last year.
Abbasi clarified that he resigned as the party’s senior vice president to give Maryam Nawaz a clear path and dismissed rumors about disagreements within the party leadership.
In an interview with an international channel, Abbasi said, “I am avoiding running in the elections because I want to avoid problems that might come after.”
Referring to statements by Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa, caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar, and Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja about the elections, Abbasi was sure that the elections would happen on time.
Abbasi attended the accountability court for the liquefied natural gas (LNG) case against him, mentioning his presence in the National Accountability Court (NAB) for the past 14 years without giving more details.
Abbasi found it hard to believe that the NAB chairman didn’t understand how these graft cases were made against them. He asked why there had been no justice in 14 years and stressed the need for compensation for the unfairness endured, saying that saying justice is served after 15 years doesn’t make up for the earlier unfair treatment.
(Islamabad51_Newsdesk)
