Politics

Nawaz eyes nation’s Feb 8 ‘judgment’ after major legal triumphs

Published

5 months ago

Farwa

Nawaz hopeful of triumph ahead of Feb 8 polls.
Ex-PM laments his removal, installation of “ladla”.
He says “shameful games” played for his ouster.

In his maiden televised ‘address to the nation’ after ending four years of exile, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif expressed confidence that the people will back his party in the upcoming general elections after he secured major victories from courts.

“I am hopeful that you [nation] will announce your judgments on February 8, [2024] and end the punishments meted out to you,” the former three-time prime minister said in a recorded message, aired on television channels Thursday.

Nawaz has time and again — since he returned to Pakistan in October after a four-year self-exile in London — reiterated the call for holding those accountable who were behind his government’s ouster in 2017, claiming they not only punished him and his family, but Pakistan as well.

“My people, you don’t need to reach out to any court as you yourself are the judge,” the former premier said as he addressed his supporters for the first time since his legal victory in the form of exoneration from major corruption cases against him.

The three-time prime minister is eyeing a fourth stint in power after winning graft appeals that came as a boost for his bid to become the next prime minister of the country.

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) overturned Nawaz’s convictions in the Al Azizia Steel Mills corruption case and Avenfield case in separate rulings, which came earlier this week and last month, respectively.

The latest relief from the high court on Tuesday, removed one of the last major hurdles for Nawaz to qualify to contest national elections.

He now needs the removal of a life ban on holding any public office to qualify to stand in the elections, scheduled for February 8, 2024.

‘Shameful games’

Nawaz lamented that he had “never” inherited “good conditions” from his predecessors and that he was always dragged into courts after his governments ended.

But he was thankful that the courts cleared his name this time. “This isn’t just my victory, it’s a victory for all of us. You kept standing by me and my party through these testing times,” Nawaz told his supporters.

The three-time prime minister reminded his workers that the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) had started a witch hunt against him on the directions of a former Supreme Court judge.

“Those involved in these shameful games [overthrowing PML-N regimes] have been exposed now. We are witnessing testimonies coming forth from those quarters from where we never thought of,” he said.

“I was called Sicilian Mafia, God Father, and a lot of other derogatory words [by judges]. But I left all my troubles up to Allah,” he smiled.

The PML-N elder lamented that he had to stay in jail for a “long time”, endure “abuse”, and also face “character assassination”.

“I could not carry my father’s coffin. I could not bury my mother. I could not spend the last moments with my dying wife,” Nawaz lamented, but vowed that he would not back down from the tough conditions ahead.

‘I was punished to bring the blue-eyed boy into power’

Without naming his top political rival, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf founder Imran Khan, Nawaz said: ” It was necessary to remove and punish me to bring a ladla (blue-eyed boy) but what crime was Pakistan punished for”.

He said that this question has been fuming like a burning coal in his heart and mind what was the people’s fault for which they were “punished”.

The deposed premier went on to question why the country, which was progressing with a rate of 6.1% during the PML-N’s government, was pushed into “economic destruction”.

“We got rid of the International Monetary Fund [IMF] but the country was again pushed towards it,” he said, asking why the foreign investment stopped in the country.

He wondered why Pakistan was made a “stronghold of terrorism” again after the PML-N government “crushed” the menace.

Nawaz also lamented the high inflation and unemployment in the country.

Latest News

The nation will not forgive the culprits of May 9: Shehbaz Sharif

Published

22 hours ago

Farwa

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif warned on Thursday that the nation will not forgive anyone responsible for the May 9 vandalism.

According to the information, the premier presided over a special meeting of the federal cabinet. The Prime Minister brought up the May 9 disturbances on this occasion. “Despite the passing of one year, the people of the country have not forgotten their culprits,” he added.

PM Shehbaz stated, “May 9th is not only the saddest day in the country’s history. However, it is also a day of philosophical disputes.”

Asif said, “On one side are the heroic sons, their families, and the patriotic masses. On the other side, there are people who have nothing to do with the national interest.”

Aleem Khan, all praise for martyrs on May 9-

On the first anniversary of the May 9 vandalism, federal Minister for Privatization Aleem Khan paid tribute to the country’s martyrs.

Aleem Khan stated, “I have a lot of respect for the Pakistan Army. The country exists because of its strong and powerful army.”

The president of the Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP) praised the country’s martyrs’ sacrifices.

Latest News

An NA speaker describes May 9 as the darkest day in the country’s history.

Published

22 hours ago

Farwa

On Thursday, National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq declared that May 9 will be regarded as the darkest day in the country’s history.

Sadiq condemned the events that occurred on May 9, last year, saying: “The enraged group had attacked military installations.”

He stated: “The attack was an attempt to weaken the institutions and challenge the writ of the state.”

He further stated: “The violent activities under the guise of the protest cannot be tolerated.”

“Any attempt to weaken the country is unacceptable. Sadiq claimed that one party and one individual had destroyed the country in order to achieve their wicked goals.

Sadiq argued that: “Any matter can be resolved by sitting in the parliament and holding talks.”

He continued: “There is a need to make joint efforts to bid farewell to the politics of division and hatred.”

“Anarchy, imbroglio are the biggest obstacles to the development of the country,” he continued.

He stated that “It is deplorable to launch a maligning campaign against the state institutions.”

“The May 9 culprits will have to be answerable according to the law,” according to him.

Sadiq urged all political parties to promote democratic principles.

Latest News

Sher Afzal Marwat has been removed from the PTI’s political committee.

Published

22 hours ago

Farwa

According to sources, Marwat, who harshly criticized his party colleagues today, was also kicked off of the PTI’s WhatsApp group.

According to insiders, the party may also disciplinary action against Marwat for his “controversial statements”.

A day earlier, it was claimed that PTI founder Imran Khan, who is imprisoned in Adiala Jail, is upset with party leader Sher Afzal Marwat’s ‘irresponsible attitude’ and has refused to meet with him.

According to sources, Imran Khan’s displeasure stems from Marwat’s statement about Saudi Arabia’s role in the demise of the PTI government, as well as his meeting with Defence Minister Khawaja Asif.

Today, however, Marwat claimed that his meeting with the PTI founder in jail was hampered by party colleagues Shibli Faraz and Omar Ayub.

Speaking to the media, he said that Shibli Faraz and Omar Ayub, who were working with the jail administration, blocked his meeting with the party’s founder. “Jail Superintendent told me that the PTI’s founder wants to meet me separately,” Marwat explained.

“When I come for meeting today, the jail superintendent didn’t allow me to meet him,” he claimed. “My meeting with the PTI founder was extremely necessary,” he explained.

“I am being paid back for my services to the PTI with the complaint of the party’s social media team against me,” he fumed.

He said that the founder of the PTI had appointed him to the political committee through Barrister Gohar. “My brother was the part of the KP cabinet, but he was suddenly de-notified,” stated him.

“I am announcing as protest that I will not work with them,” said the man. “I will come for protest when the PTI founder will entrust me the responsibility,” said the politician.

It is worth noting that the PTI’s political committee supported Sheikh Waqas Akram’s nomination as head of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC).