MULTAN: Former premier Nawaz Sharif Friday said that he was determined despite his disqualification by the Supreme Court.
Speaking to the participants of a rally at Multan’s Qasim Bagh Stadium, the former premier said he could not return the immense love and respect people had showered on him. He said that he came to Multan after attending 66th hearing of the references against him.
“You made Nawaz Sharif prime minister by voting in his favour on May 11,” he said, adding that he delivered on every single promise he made.
In a clear reference to his disqualification verdict, the former premier told participants, “You and I will overturn the decision in 2018.”
Addressing the rally earlier, veteran politician Javed Hashmi said the country had passed through various stages after the demise of Quaid-e-Azam. “I understand that the current stage is a difficult one.”
He said the Almighty granted various governments to Nawaz, adding, “The one, whose three governments were toppled, has been fighting for the rights of the people.” “History has not witnessed such a leader anywhere,” Hashmi added.
He said that they had been trying to save the sanctity of vote.”
The veteran politician added that Nawaz was his leader and would continue to be. He said that he had told his children to bury him in the PML-N flag.
He further said: “I had been strayed for a few moments, however, today I announce accepting Nawaz’s leadership.”
In her address, Maryam Nawaz criticised the PTI chief Imran Khan and its other leaders, saying: “A rally is organised wherever Nawaz stands but a few individuals have become tired of staging sit-ins repeatedly.”
“A few individuals have gotten tired of hatching conspiracies, and if there is anyone who is not tired, then it is mine and yours leader Nawaz Sharif.”
The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo reached the rally ground from Islamabad earlier in the evening.
Nawaz, accompanied by daughter Maryam, was received by Punjab Governor Malik Muhammad Rafique Rajwana. Strict security arrangements were in place.
Wajid presents ‘original letter’ of Qatri prince in NAB court
Panama Papers joint investigation team (JIT) head and prosecution witness Wajid Zia on Friday produced the ‘original letter’ of Qatari prince Hamad Bin Jassim in the accountability court.
Zia resumed recording his statement in the Al Azizia reference filed by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) against former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and his sons Hassan and Hussain Nawaz.
Over the course of the hearing, Zia produced the ‘original letter’ of Qatri prince Hamad Bin Jassim dated July 17, 2017, and addressed to the JIT. He also produced copies of documents before the court, however the defence team raised an objection saying the documents do not bear a stamp or seal.
Zia also produced in the court an attested copy of a chart pertaining to major transactions in the accounts of Nawaz Sharif and Maryam Nawaz from Hussain Nawaz and Hill Metals. The court asked him to present a legible copy of the chart. However, the defence counsel objected to the chart and said that the documents cannot be made part of the investigation report.
Multiple objections, however, irked the prosecution team led by Sardar Muzaffar Abbasi. “This is a waste of court’s time,” he said, while calling out the defence counsel for ‘unnecessary’ objections. “Should I leave the courtroom so that objections too could be recorded by the prosecution team?” Kh Haris, counsel for the Sharif family, retorted.
To most of the defence objections, the prosecution simply had one word to say: ‘misconceived’. The court will take up the case again on Monday to continue recording Zia’s statement.
Nawaz and his family are facing three corruption cases in the accountability court after the NAB filed references against them in light of the SC’s verdict in the Panama Papers case. The trial against the Sharif family had commenced on September 14, 2017.
The corruption references filed against the Sharifs pertain to the Al-Azizia Steel Mills and Hill Metal Establishment, offshore companies including Flagship Investment Ltd, and Avenfield properties of London.
Published in Daily Times, May 12th 2018.
