LAHORE - Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has questioned the earlier decision of the caretaker government for the jail trial of Nawaz Sharif, Maryam Safdar and Cap (retd) Muhammad Safdar when they were not terrorists.

“Which cabinet had issued the notification for jail trial of the Sharifs on the pattern of trial prescribed for the terrorists,” said PML-N Spokesperson Marriyum Aurangzeb while talking to media at the party’s Model Town Secretariat here yesterday. PML-N Senator Musaddaq Malik was also present on the occasion.

The federal caretaker cabinet has reversed the decision and put the trial of three members of the Sharifs family from Adiala Jail to the trial court in Islamabad. The PML-N spokesperson asked the government to explain as to why the earlier jail trial was ordered?

Marriyum also expressed surprise over the delay of two weeks for the next hearing of the appeals filed by Nawaz Sharif, Marriyum and Safdar against the conviction in Avenfield reference. She said Nawaz Sharif and his daughter were innocent in the case as no evidence had come up against them at the trial level. She also appreciated the public reaction to the conviction that was a demonstration through the presence of lakhs of party workers in Lahore to receive their beloved leaders.

This public enthusiasm will not be abated in time to come, the PML-N spokesperson said adding, the party voters on July 25 will scrape all punishments to their leaders through the power of ballot.

As to jail facilities to the Sharifs after arrest on July 13 on return from London, she said with reference to Musharraf era, the Sharifs suffered such hardships in the past and this time too they have been subjected to a harsh treatment. She also complained about the restrictions put on meeting of in Nawaz Sharif with the party men.

The PML-N leader was also particularly annoyed by favourable treatment to PTI Chairman Imran Khan who, she said, has been given the concessions of appearance before the NAB in chopper use case. On the contrary, former chief minister Shehbaz Sharif was being daily summoned to the NAB office, she added. Imran has also been absolved in the terrorism case registered on the offence of attacking the TV and Parliament buildings during Islamabad dharna while the N worker implicated in the terror cases.

She grumbled over the ban on the election campaign of the PML-N on the electronic media and said, it was denial of the level field playing to the PML-N in the election.

To a question on the participation of Junaid Safdar, the son of Maryum who has recently come to the country from London, in the national political, she said, Junaid is receiving education although he belongs to a family of politicians. No decision has been taken on Junaid’s taking part in politics, she added.

Replying to a question on PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto’s offer for rewriting the Charter of Democracy with the input of political parties across, she said, there was no harm in holding dialogues as they reflected true spirit of democracy. As to CoD, she said, if failed to work due to sudden martyrdom of Benazir Bhutto.