ISLAMABAD - Former Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi on Thursday has refused to apologise to National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaisar.

The former PM was served with a show-cause notice on Wednesday for threatening to hit the Speaker with a shoe during the Assembly session in which the government tabled the resolution to discuss the expulsion of the French Ambassador. Shahid Khaqan Abbasi had appeared before an Accountability Court and while speaking to the media outside the court premises said that he seeks forgiveness from only Allah Almighty and nobody else. Meanwhile, the former Prime Minister once again criticised the government on vaccines.

“The government is administering the coronavirus vaccines it received in charity”, he said, adding, “It couldn’t even purchase them for its people. It is quite sad that people in Pakistan have no other option than to purchase vaccines.”

He remarked that the Covid-19 cases are going down across the world, but they are increasing in Pakistan. He suggested that the National Command Operation Center should stop working as it has been failed to serve its purpose. 

While expressing his views regarding an attack on journalist Absar Alam, he said; “Absar Alam was attacked and wounded in Islamabad but no one knows who was responsible for this.” He further said that we will raise this issue in Parliament. He, however, said that he has no hopes from this Parliament.

We can’t even hold a discussion on Western countries posting blasphemous content here, what are the chances that we can discuss Press freedom, he said.

Criticising the National Accountability Bureau, he said it is just made for the Opposition. 

He remarked that everyone knows that the PTI government and its Ministers are responsible for the sugar crisis. He said they all should be sent to jail.

He further said that Shehbaz Sharif has been jailed for more than a year for a crime he didn’t commit. The same rule should apply to the government members too, he said.

Earlier, the judge Accountability Court Azam Khan heard LNG reference in which the legal counsel of a co-accused Imran Shaikh completed his cross examination over the NAB’s witness ,however, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi informed the court that his lawyer is Covid-19 positive and he would appear on next date of hearing if he becomes negative. 

The court has adjourned the hearing till 27th April with directions for all lawyers to be present on the next date of hearing.