LAHORE/London - Former premier Nawaz Sharif and his daughter Maryam Nawaz Sharif are expected to come back home Sunday (today) night to appear before the accountability court Monday.

Both Nawaz and her daughter flew to London on April 18 to see Begum Kulsoom Nawaz who is under treatment for her cancer problem at a hospital there. In view of the serious health state of Begum Kulsoom, both had sought exemption of one week from the trial court from appearance in the criminal references, but the court granted them only one-day exemption, requiring their presence Monday when it has to take up further hearing of the references.

Talking to reporters in London on Saturday, Nawaz Sharif, taking a jibe at former president, said he would not run away like former dictator General (r) Pervez Musharraf.

Nawaz said the talks of martial law were worrisome, adding the caretaker government should work according to the law. He urged the nation to consider the upcoming general elections as a referendum.

Earlier, the leadership of ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz held an important meeting in London, which was attended by Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, former finance minister Ishaq Dar and the two sons of Nawaz Sharif, Hussain Nawaz and Hassan Nawaz. The meeting was held at the office of ex-PM’s son Hussain Nawaz.

Talking to the media, PM Abbasi avoided answering questions on the court decision rejecting the plea of Nawaz Sharif for exemption from personal appearance. Hussain Nawaz, however, termed the court decision unfortunate.

Responding to a question, Nawaz asked PTI chief Imran Khan to explain who ordered him to vote for Asif Ali Zardari’s candidate in recent Senate elections and what his motivations were behind voting for PPP’s symbol, arrow.

Nawaz referred to Jamaat-e-Islami leader Sirajul Haq’s statement in which he said Pervez Khattak had told him that PTI had been “ordered” to vote for Sadiq Sanjrani and PPP’s Saleem Mandviwala for the Senate chairman and deputy chairman slots, respectively.

The former premier said: “By voting for PPP, Imran Khan proved he and other political parties always “look towards umpire’s finger” and “orders from the top” whereas PML-N is the only party that takes dictations from the people of Pakistan.”

Nawaz said the Senate chairman and deputy chairman stand discredited due to the way the Balochistan Assembly was taken over, the manner the Senate elections were held and after confession by PTI to horse-trading.

Nawaz said: “I am being targeted and put under immense pressure, but I am not the one who will stay out of Pakistan. I will not leave the country for there is difference between me and Pervez Musharraf.” Nawaz admitted the current situation was definitely a difficult time for him. “I can’t say why it’s difficult and what the reasons are. I will perhaps not speak about that, but I will face the situation,” he affirmed.

The former premier said he appears before the National Accountability Bureau court five times a week despite the fact that he has committed no corruption of any kind while others involved in NAB probes have their hearings once in three months or so.

“What kind of case is this against me? Is there any precedent of such a NAB case? Is there any such example in the history of Pakistan?” asked Nawaz, adding all the NAB cases are related to commissions, misuse of public money, kickbacks on contracts, misuse of public office and financial corruption, but the case against him had no such allegation.

Nawaz said all these cases were politically motivated and all efforts were being made ahead of next elections to deny Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz a level-playing field.

He lamented he was facing unprecedented censorship in the media and his speeches and their contents had been banned. The former premier termed it pre-poll rigging and said he hoped the nation would stop it with full force through use of vote.

“Use the next elections as a referendum and cast as many votes as possible to enable PML-N to emerge victorious,” he said.

Nawaz said such a situation of censorship wasn’t witnessed during the martial law. “This must worry the whole nation. We are witnessing the kind of censorship and ban on the media and freedom of speech that has not been seen during the worst times,” he lamented.

He said he discussed the name of next caretaker prime minister with Shahid Khaqan Abbasi. He asserted the caretaker prime minister should follow rules and regulations and should not bow down to unnecessary pressure.

Separately, PM Abbasi and Nawaz agreed PML-N would contest next elections on the agenda of progress and the slogan of “Give respect to ballot.”

 

TOP JUDGE RESPONSIBLE IF ANYTHING HAPPENS TO NAWAZ, SAYS MARYAM: In a series of tweets, Maryam Nawaz has said if anything happens to the ousted premier, it will be Chief Justice of Pakistan Saqib Nisar’s fault.

“My Lord, you may take away security from the prime minister who uprooted terrorism. But if something happens to him, you will be responsible for it,” Maryam tweeted.

The PML-N leader also retweeted a video of the CJP’s protocol while on his way to a hospital in Charsadda. “The protocol for the CJP consisted of 35 vehicles. If this isn’t how a kingdom works, then what is it?” said the tweet on Maryam’s profile.

On Thursday, the CJP directed police chiefs of all the provinces to withdraw within 24 hours the security protocol provided to influential individuals not entitled to official security.