Minus-Nawaz formula for PML-N bound to fail: Rana Sanaullah

Punjab law minister says former prime minister Nawaz Sharif "a plus" for ruling party

Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah on Friday said that those in favour of the 'minus-Nawaz' formula are bound to fail in the upcoming general elections of 2018.

While addressing the media, Sanaullah said Nawaz Sharif is "a plus", and will always remain so.

The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) lawmaker further said, "Constitution was created by the Parliament, not the other way around. And the Constitution is supreme to the Supreme Court itself."

He said the Supreme Court (SC) is just another constitutional body and that its job is to ensure the protection of rights given in the Constitution.

The lawmaker questioned on what basis had the apex court barred Nawaz from heading his own political party.

"The verdict has shocked the entire nation," Sanaullah added.



"It is unprecedented how Nawaz was singled out by such verdicts," the law minister said.

He said the PML-N respects these verdicts but those who are working on the ‘minus Nawaz’ agenda will soon "taste failure" in the upcoming general elections 2018.

The provincial law minister also criticised the manner in which National Accountability Bureau (NAB) arrested Lahore Development Authority's (LDA) former director general Ahad Cheema.



He said there was a procedure in place for NAB to make arrests.

"First an enquiry is conducted, then the findings are presented before the board. After which, the reference is filed in the court and then the court allows the arrest warrant of the individual-in-question," the minister explained. "But Ahad Cheema was arrested on his appearance in the court."

Sanaullah aslo told the media that officers across Punjab had warned the provincial government that they cannot work in such an environment.

He said the Punjab government had always put merit and transparency first, and it does not support corrupt officials. He questioned if the NAB was falsely accusing and defaming persons, and that they will bring the matter to the federal government and NAB chairperson’s notice.