Not the one to flee judicial proceedings, says Nawaz Sharif
Former premier appeared before accountability court today; to be indicted on October 2
September 26, 2017
ISLAMABAD: Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, addressing a press conference at Punjab House on Tuesday after his appearance at a NAB court, said he was not the one to flee judicial proceedings
He once again questioned the grounds of his disqualification once more as well as the way the corruption cases against him are proceeding.
Senior party leaders, including Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan and Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, were present alongside the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz leader.
Nawaz began his address by deploring the incident at the accountability court earlier today when a journalist was manhandled.
The former premier said he had gone to London to be with his ailing wife, but rumours were created stating that he would not return.
The former premier said despite false cases and torture, he never bowed down before a dictator. "We believe in the supremacy of law, and have sacrificed greatly for it," he said.
He reiterated the proceedings of the Supreme Court in the Panama Papers case, in which a Joint Investigation Team was formed, as well as its July 28 judgment which resulted in the appointment of a monitoring judge.
"Is this called a fair trial," asked Nawaz. He said the 12 questions he raised in the lawyers' convention in Lahore have not been answered. "The answers to those questions cannot come either," he claimed.
Nawaz said not a single penny worth of corruption or misuse of power was proved, adding that as a result the Iqama excuse was used to disqualify him.
"They should have told the people that nothing was found in the Panama Papers," he remarked.
He observed how he could accept the verdict when even the legal community has rejected it.
"I and my children appeared before the JIT which was surreptitiously formed after 'Whatsapp calls'. Some JIT members were themselves facing inquiries," he narrated.
Nawaz said he still hopes, despite everything, that there will be justice.
"Let the 200 million people decide the issue of disqualification," shared the ousted prime minister.
Nawaz said he's facing cases based on lies, but added that he has decided to contest the cases for "Quaid-e-Azam's Pakistan, 200 million people of the country, sanctity of vote and all those prime ministers who could not complete their terms".
The three-time premier said he knows what his real 'crime' is, adding that he will, however, continue to stand with his people.
In the end, he thanked the voters of NA-120, Lahore — his home constituency — for ensuring the victory of his wife and party candidate Kulsoom Nawaz and further said a bigger decision will come in 2018, referring to the general elections.
"I will continue to render sacrifices for the country," concluded Nawaz.
Nawaz returned to the country on Monday after spending over three weeks in London to spend time with his wife, Kulsoom, who is undergoing treatment for lymphoma.
On Tuesday, Nawaz appeared before the accountability court which is hearing three corruption references against him and his family.
The court has set October 2 as the date of the next hearing, when it will indict the ousted prime minister. After his court appearance, Nawaz returned to the Punjab House, where he met several political leaders and party officials, including Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman.
