Put Nawaz behind bars, demands PTI

Members were heading to Islamabad to take part in celebrations

LAHORE: Former premier Nawaz Sharif should be arrested because he has disgraced Pakistan’s name in the world, said Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) leader Ejaz Chaudhry.

He was speaking to the participants of a rally on Sunday who headed to Islamabad to take part in the PTI’s ‘thanksgiving’ celebrations later in the evening.



A large number of party activists and supporters were holding banners, posters and placards inscribed with slogans against the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leadership. They also chanted slogans against former premier Nawaz, Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif, and PML-N’s nominee for prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi.

Chaudhry, who also led the rally, said Abbasi and Shahbaz will also be disqualified soon.

“The ruling party does not have a single politician who is not involved in corruption and can be nominated as prime minister.” The PML-N has nominated Abbasi for the post of prime minister, he said, adding that he had cases in the National Accountability Bureau (NAB). He was involved in the $200 million LNG scam, which was being investigated by NAB. “Such criminals cannot hold the highest office of the country.”

He said Shahbaz Sharif was also involved in mega corruption cases. PTI Chairman Imran Khan had already announced to file a reference against him in the court of law, he said. “He has his direct involvement in Hudabiya Paper Mills.”

Chaudhry said that his party demanded the immediate arrest of former premier Nawaz. Criminal cases should be registered against him and looted money should be returned to Pakistan.”

He underlined that the PML-N was a group of incapable people who had harmed the country’s image. The former premier is a criminal who already has 32 cases against him in NAB, he said, adding that now on the apex court’s decision, more cases would be registered against him.



Replying to a question, Chaudhry said that in the NA-120 by-election, the PTI would show citizens the corruption of the PML-N leadership. “The PTI’s candidate will win because now people know the PML-N leadership had looted public money and made billions of rupees through unfair means.”

Holding a party flag in his hand, rally participant Adeel Ahmad said corruption was causing irreparable loss to the country. The ruling family had been caught for its involvement in corruption in mega corruption cases and now they should be given exemplary punishment so nobody dared to loot public money, he said.

Hameed, another PTI activist, said the PML-N had over 76 iqama holders in its ranks. All of them should be disqualified just like their party leader. “I believe, there is no threat to democracy in Pakistan,” he said. The Supreme Court of Pakistan and other national institutions should continue the accountability process and corrupt elements should be put behind bars, he added.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 31^st, 2017.