Nawaz urges workers to stand firm for judiciary's freedom, protection, defence

LAHORE: Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif on Thursday urged Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) workers to stand firm for the judiciary's freedom, protection, and defence, according to a message he conveyed Thursday from inside Kot Lakhpat Jail.

No weakness should be shown in making the government's attacks a failure, Sharif said, adding that a joint session of the members of the Senate and the National Assembly be called on May 31.

PML-N spokesperson Marriyum Aurangzeb posted Sharif's message on Twitter.

Aurangzeb further said the parliamentary leadership should soon prepare a retaliatory strategy for the government's attacks. The message from Sharif she posted was as follows:

Shikasta ho keh bhi naqabil-e-shikast hoon mein!"
[Despite being weary, I still stand undefeated!]

According to the PML-N spokesperson, Sharif said the party should unmask the allegations the government is piling up against the honourable judges and strongly condemn them.

"I do not care for myself, it is time now to save the country and its people, what had to happen to me has happened, the workers need to save the constitutional institution," Aurangzeb quoted Sharif as saying.

"I'm ready to make all kinds of sacrifices for [the party slogan] 'respect the vote'," she noted, adding that the ex-PM advised that "workers need not worry about my health, my goal is way too big and important".

As per Sharif's advice, she said, a meeting of PML-N members of the parliament has been summoned on Friday. "The dictatorial thinking of the incompetent prime minister [Imran Khan] who has been imposed on the people [of Pakistan] will not be tolerated," she added.

"Earlier, too, the attack on judiciary was foiled and the same will be done now as well," she said.

Aurangzeb commented that the "the volume of the lies of government and the prime minister is so huge that 38 spokespeople-on-rent were employed".

Because of the incompetent prime minister, there has been a tsunami of dishonour in the country, she added.

PTI senator terms Aurangzeb's comments on judiciary 'humourous'

Faisal Javed Khan, a senator associated with the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), said he was convinced of Aurangzeb's sense of humour after hearing her speak in defence of the judiciary.

The PTI senator said: "Marriyum Bibi's party has the honour of attacking the Supreme Court.

"No party to date has used more disgusting language and launched attacks on state institutions than the PML-N," he added.

This group, he said referring to the PML-N, had been issued contempt-of-court notices in the past over using disgusting language, having inappropriate conversations, and threatening the judges.

"We will not adopt the same tone with Marriyum Bibi that she adopted on Mian sahib's directives."