PML-N ministers go all guns blazing at ‘conspirators’

Saad Rafique, Abid Sher launch offensive as JIT probe nears completion


APP July 02, 2017

ISLAMABAD/ LAHORE: As the joint investigation team’s (JIT) probe into offshore properties of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his family nears completion, two ruling party ministers went on the offensive on Sunday, claiming the party was being ‘victimised’ under a campaign of ‘revenge’.

The move appears to be in line with what Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz insiders say is a strategy of confrontational politics to preempt any ‘unfavourable scenario’ that could emerge when the probe panel submits its fourth and final fortnightly report to the Supreme Court on July 10.

Speaking at an Eid Milan party for PML-N workers in Lahore, Railways Minister Khawaja Saad Rafique said that the ruling party was continuously being made a target of ‘hatred and revenge’.

“After their sit-ins and allegations of rigging failed, our opponents brought up this Panama Leaks issue against us, which was not even acknowledged by Panama itself,” he said.

He claimed that nothing happened to leaders of other countries whose name appeared in the leaks and termed it a conspiracy against Pakistan. “Pakistan’s prosperity is perturbing its enemies,” he added.

Rafique complained that the PML-N was never appreciated for its good work. “I ask journalists and intellectuals, who else can compete with PML-N when it comes to bringing prosperity and progress?”

"No one listens to us when foul language is used against us," he complained. “We also struggled for democracy, then why should we not be given respect? Please, do not target us without extending proof."

He said protecting democracy was the responsibility of all four pillars of the state, which, he added, should work within the ambit of the constitution. The minister urged PML-N’s opponents to “wait a few months, till the completion of the government’s tenure.”

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He called for letting democracy prevail, saying that people’s trust in the vote will shatter if political parties are damaged. "Then people will resort to violence and the political leadership will not be able to do anything," he added.

“PML-N will not fall alone. Those pulling it down will fall with it,” he warned.

Speaking to the media separately, Minister of State for Water and Power Abid Sher Ali said the business activities of the PML-N leadership were being ‘unfairly’ linked with corruption.

“Neither Pervez Musharraf, during his nine-year rule, not the Pakistan Peoples Party, in the five years that followed, could produce any evidence that the PML-N leadership was involved in corruption,” he said. “Our leadership is clean and all conspiracies against it will be similarly foiled.”

"We are ready to face anything in case of evidence against us but we will not allow anyone to take revenge by indulging us in non-issues," he added.

Speaking to The Express Tribune, sources in PML-N’s central chapter said the party leadership has decided to organise workers’ conventions in various parts of the country, mostly in Punjab, to mobilise support ahead of the completion of the Panamagate probe.

“We are flexing our muscles—just in case,” said a senior PML-N leader privy to the issue. He said the PML-N leadership believes the JIT will pinpoint glaring contradictions in the statements recorded by members of the Sharif family. “This is the real problem. There might be contradictions which could entail repercussions.”

Another well-placed party source said the PML-N leadership grew concerned when the JIT  went on to summon more members of the Sharif family, including the premier’s daughter Maryam Nawaz and her husband Captain (retd) Safdar, along with incumbent and former top officials of the National Accountability Bureau and the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan.

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“We thought it was going to be over after the prime minister, his sons, Shehbaz Sharif and Tariq Shafi were summoned,” the source said. “More people appearing before JIT means more chances of contradictions,” he added.

Apart from the political measures, the PML-N has also resorted to populist measures by visibly reducing load-shedding. The premier, insiders said, would soon chair the meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Energy to review progress on reducing power outages to win public support.

Speaking to The Express Tribune, Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah confirmed PML-N workers’ conventions would be arranged in different parts of the country but insisted that they were part of Eid Milan campaign the party leadership arranged each year.

About the statements made by the PML-N ministers, he said, “The situation we are in is hurting millions of PML-N supporters. We are angry and this anger is a reflection of public sentiment. But we will follow the course of law in compliance with the top court’s orders and would never take the law into our hands.” APP (WITH ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY SARDAR SIKANDAR FROM ISLAMABAD)

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