PML-N rallies behind embattled PM

Nawaz reminds how he ‘risked’ his life for restoration of judiciary

ISLAMABAD: A day after his cabinet threw its weight behind the prime minister, the parliamentary party of the PML-N also reposed confidence in the leadership of Nawaz Sharif on Friday as the opposition’s chorus calling for his resignation grew louder.

Government ministers have binned the Joint Investigation Team’s report as a ‘piece of trash’, pointing out ‘inaccuracies’ in the 254-page document which is being seen as a damning indictment of the Sharif family.

Prime minister must step down, says legal fraternity

“I’m sure the [apex] court would hear our concerns [on the JIT report]. My conscience is clear,” Sharif said while addressing a meeting of PML-N’s parliamentary party, and his legal and political aides, including the chief ministers of Punjab and Balochistan. “I will not step down,” Sharif said, according to a statement issued by his office.

Irrespective of political rhetoric coming out from the parliamentary party where Sharif was welcomed with desk-thumping and boisterous applause, sources say all is not well within the ruling party as far as the issue of the PM’s resignation is concerned.

PM unmoved as resignation call rises to a crescendo

Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan was conspicuous by his absence amid reports that he was not happy with a fake news aired a day earlier by a TV channel, suggesting the minister has advised the prime minister during Thursday’s cabinet to not step down. Nisar denied the report, saying the statement attributed to him was incorrect.

Sources say Nisar has decided not to attend the parliamentary party meeting since he believes some powerful circles in the party had ‘leaked’ the news to a section of the media regarding him advising the prime minister against stepping down.

Evidence that ‘alone can send PM packing’

On the contrary, sources say, Nisar is among a group of PML-N stalwarts who believe a clash with state institutions, the judiciary in particular, could be detrimental to the PML-N’s interests.

“For a minister, to rebut as ‘harmless’ and ‘favouarble’ news implies that things are not what they seem,” says a source who attended the meetings of the cabinet and the parliamentary party.

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Moreover, sources say, the Punjab chief minister, during the parliamentary party meeting, asked the PML-N lawmakers to “exercise utmost caution while commenting on the Supreme Court and targeting the JIT”.

He pointed out that legal defence of the Sharif family in the Panama leaks case was not ‘up to the mark’ and that adjustments and improvements needed to be made in the team of legal counsels for the respondents to put up an effective defence in the top court, The Express Tribune has learnt.

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According to the official statement on Friday’s meeting, the parliamentary party lent its unequivocal support to Sharif. Interestingly, the premier and his aides hardly spare a word to reject the JIT report but cited the same report in support of their ‘honesty’.

“Not a single sentence of the JIT report gives a clue that Nawaz Sharif is guilty of corruption,” the statement quoted the premier as having said in the parliamentary party meeting. “Let alone scandals, in the 4000-word JIT report, not a single allegation could be levelled regarding corruption or irregularities.”

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Sharif, the statement said, termed the JIT report ‘controversial’ and ‘mere pack of accusations by opponents’.

Sharif spoke of his government’s achievements and claimed credit for bringing peace in Balochistan, Karachi and an economic boom, initiating energy projects and restoration of the judiciary. “I risked my life to launch the long march for restoration of the judiciary. American and British leaders called me to inform that my life was in danger,” he added.

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Taking an obvious jibe at PTI Chairman Imran Khan, the prime minister said, “Today, those who are acting like big leaders, they went into hiding, then,” he referred to Khan who had gone into hiding in March 2009 to avoid arrest at the hands of the Islamabad police during the PPP government for supporting the judiciary.

Sharif said soon after the 2013 elections a baseless campaign was launched against the PML-N government. “This is the third attack [after two dharnas] on you people. But Allah and public are with us,” Sharif told the party members. “I feel sorry that once again efforts are being made to push the country backwards, ruining our profound hard work.”