From Abid Usman
LAHORE: Pakistan Muslim League (N) President and former prime minister Nawaz Sharif has emphasised the necessity of holding accountable those who have harmed the country or supported such individuals.
Under Nawaz Sharif’s leadership, a consultative meeting of the Pakistan Muslim League (N) was held, attended by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, former Punjab chief minister Hamza Shehbaz, and federal ministers Ata Tarar, Rana Sanaullah, among others.
During the meeting, discussions focused on the current political and economic situation in the country.
Nawaz Sharif stated that extreme caution was needed when making statements. He said that accountability was essential for those who have harmed the country or supported such figures.
He stressed the need to focus more on public issues alongside performance. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif remarked that they were moving in the right direction, standing with the Establishment, respecting all its decisions, and making joint decisions.
Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz emphasised the need for strict implementation of policies.
Earlier, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif has called for accountability of all those who have ruined and damaged the country.
While addressing the party’s central working committee (CWC) meeting here at Model Town on Saturday, Nawaz said that those who were involved in hatching conspiracies against him were being exposed.
The PML-N CWC members from all the four provinces and AJK attended the meeting who reposed their full confidence in the leadership of Nawaz Sharif.
Nawaz admired the party leaders who faced fake cases and still remained loyal with the party. “It is very good that the leadership of every province is present here. We have gathered after a long time,” he said, adding: “Everyone had faced problems of their own from exile to fraudulent legal proceedings and finally false cases were exposed.”
The PML-N leader said, “Three people sit down and disqualify a prime minister representing 250 million people for life.”
He said judges could not remove prime ministers or presidents in any other country of the world but here he was removed on a matter of not taking salary from his son.
“Who will answer for this,” he asked, adding: “I have the right to ask this question.”
Referring to the resignations of former Supreme Court judges Ijazul Ahsan and Mazahar Naqvi, Nawaz said both should be questioned why they resigned before their tenures and that legal proceedings should be conducted against them. “We call for accountability of those who destroyed and ruined Pakistan,” he said, adding: “We faced NAB; Mazahar Naqvi should also be questioned from which resources he bought properties.”
He further said, “I have an audio of former chief justice of Pakistan Saqib Nisar wherein he said Nawaz Sharif had to be removed and Imran Khan has to be brought in.” He also mentioned about disclosures made by Justice Shaukat Siddiqui.
The PML-N supremo also highlighted the performance of his government tenures and services delivered to the country and nation. The people must compare while casting their votes that which political party had best served them, he said, adding: During our tenure, the interest rate was at about 5 percent, while the dollar and inflation was under control.
Nawaz said, “I have the right to ask my nation this question that do you think before voting what Nawaz Sharif’s performance was and what was that of his opponents; the nation should answer this. I have a complaint with the nation, as well. A prime minister is removed in a false case of not taking a salary from his son and the nation stays silent, this is not right.”
Nawaz disclosed that upon assuming power in 2013, the first thing he did was to visit PTI founder Imran Khan in Bani Gala in order to come to an agreement on working together for the country’s sake. Imran subsequently went to London, along with other political figures of the time, and then a plot was hatched, after which protests were launched in the country upon the PTI founder’s return, the PML-N leader said. “I visit you and you stab me in the back by assuring cooperation and then you begin protests in Islamabad’s D-Chowk,” Nawaz said without naming Imran. He added that his government had not impeded the formation of the PTI government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa after the 2013 elections despite being in the position to do so through a coalition.
Nawaz also lauded the performance of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and added that Maryam also told him that in all matters she had seen contributions of Shehbaz.
Shehbaz Sharif said on the occasion that handing over of party’s leadership to Nawaz Sharif was the happy and satisfactory moments for him.
“Nawaz Sharif was removed from the party chairmanship illegally and it was severe violation of law and justice,” he said, adding: During hard times, party’s leadership was handed over to him and now again he handed over the party leadership to Nawaz Sharif.” Shehbaz also thanked the party for electing him as party president.
