ISLAMABAD - Welcoming Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar’s assurance about on-time elections, former prime minister Nawaz Sharif has urged him to also ensure level-playing field for all parties.

Talking to the media after appearing before the Accountability Court Islamabad on Friday, he deplored coercing political activists and leaders to change loyalties and asked CJP to also look into the alleged interference of undemocratic forces in Balochistan politics.

He also alleged NAB of harassing key office-bearers of PML-N and targeting them under fallacious accusations. The chief justice should seek explanation from NAB for targeting political figures ahead of the elections, Nawaz demanded.

“There is no room for such coercive tactics to change political loyalties in any civilised societies,” Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz lifetime Quaid said.

He said he will also plead to Prime Minister Shahid KhaqanAbbasi to bring legislation to prevent misuse of NAB during the interim government so that the anti-graft body may not pressure politicians to switch parties.

The former prime minister also asked the people to reject turncoats in the upcoming elections. “I will [also] like to give a message to public to dissociate themselves from all those senators who had made their way to Upper House through the power of their money,” he added.

Nawaz deplored the reported forced disappearance of political workers and activists from National Assembly constituency NA-120 ahead of the by-elections in Sept last year.

He said he had brought the matter to the notice of PM Abbassi and Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal, asking them to take serious notice on the issue.

The hearing in corruption reference against Nawaz Sharif and his other family members could not be taken up as the judge could not come due to illness. The hearing was, therefore, put off until April 9.

Terming Supreme Court’s July 28, 2017 judgment ‘highhandedness’ with him, Nawaz said this verdict should not have been delivered as it not only made him lose the office of the prime minister but also resulted in his dethronement as party head later.

He said they have requested the NAB court to allow live telecast of the proceedings of their cases so that everyone could see what’s actually going on there.

He said there could be no confrontation between state institutions as long as they keep performing their duties by remaining within their constitutional limits.

If state institutions devise a mechanism for mutual coordination and consultation, it would act as a safety valve and prevent clash he added.

Criticising PTI Chairman Imran Khan, Nawaz Sharif said they were like those who take U-turns on every move.

“We are ideological people, and ideological people are sitting on my right and left,” the PML-N leader said while referring to Mehmood Achakzai and Hasil Bazenjo who were sitting by his side during the media talk.

Earlier, Bazenjo told the media that Nawaz Sharif was appearing before the court in person on a daily basis and judiciary should appreciate this thing.

“It appears from last one week’s cross-examination [of JIT head Wajid Zia] that nothing has left in this case,” he said.

The National Party leader said the judges should not base their decisions on Article 62 and 63 as the conduct of the judiciary could also be questioned under these very articles.

Mehmood Khan Achakzai in his media talk stated that they were committed with the constitution and wanted implementation of law and constitution in letter and spirit.

The PkMAP chief said that action should be taken against them if representatives of any institution cross their constitutional limits.