PM Abbasi advises Sharif to face court
Says ex-PM’s presence in Pakistan necessary in view of coming elections
PHOTO:FILE
ISLAMABAD:
Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi has advised former prime minister Nawaz Sharif not to prolong his stay in London and come back to face the trial pending against him in the accountability court.
Sharif and his daughter Maryam Nawaz are likely to return to Pakistan soon, but may seek exemption from court appearance for the next hearing, it is learnt.
Some in the PML-N believe that Sharif should stay on in London on the pretext of his ailing wife and skip the court proceedings even if an exemption is not granted.
PM Abbasi stresses need to ensure justice for oppressed
There is a likelihood that Sharif may face conviction in the trial initiated on the orders of the Supreme Court in the Panamagate case.
Other PML-N leaders, including the new president Shehbaz Sharif and PM Abbasi, are of the view that Sharif should come back to Pakistan and face the trial regardless of the outcome.
During a meeting between the former premier and his successor held in London on Saturday, Abbasi is said to have advised Sharif that his presence in Pakistan was necessary to politically boost the ruling party ahead of the general elections. PML-N leader Ishaq Dar was also present at the meeting.
“Mian sahib’s absence from the country in the wake of his ongoing trial in the accountability court will allow the opposition parties to contend that Mian sahib escaped to skip trial… this could adversely affect our party in the general elections,” said one of the aides of the PM, requesting anonymity.
However, a senior leader who is known to be a trusted confidante of Sharif, claims that the former PM is in no mood to prolong his stay in London.
“After months of political canvassing, Mian sahib has built a narrative that he is being targeted by discriminatory accountability and he would face the trial come what may. But if he skips [the trial] and takes refuge in London, wouldn’t it amount to his political annihilation? He is fully aware of the situation and will never allow this to happen,” he said.
On Wednesday, former PM, his daughter, son-in-law Captain (retd) Safdar and some other family members had left for London. The same day, PM Abbasi also landed in London to attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM).
The three-day event (April 18-20) concluded on Friday and Abbasi was expected to return home the same day but decided to extend his stay to meet Sharif.
Chairman of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Imran Khan also flew to Britain to take part in a fundraising event in Manchester on Saturday.
The presence of three political bigwigs in the UK gave rise to speculations that something was afoot and the government and opposition leaders could be trying to hold secret deliberations on the caretaker set-up using ‘indirect channels’.
However, sources denied that the purpose of Abbasi and Sharif’s presence in London was to hold discussions on the caretaker set-up. The former PM wanted to discuss his return to Pakistan with the incumbent PM, according to insiders.
On Friday, the Accountability Court accepted the request of Sharif and Maryam for exemption from hearing for one-day (Friday) but dismissed their application seeking exemption from personal appearance for a week.
PM Abbasi in London for Commonwealth meeting
The court remarked that if required, the accused could file a fresh exemption plea on the next hearing, on Monday.
Sources said that the former PM and his daughter might seek exemption from the hearing on Monday but would return to Pakistan to attend the next hearing.
Prime Minister Abbasi asserted that the PML-N would push forward the slogan of 'sanctity of vote' during its election campaign.
Talking to newsmen, the PM said that the PML-N would contest the election and succeed too. He also said the name of the caretaker prime minister would be decided by him and Leader of Opposition in the National Assembly Syed Khursheed Shah.
Answering a question, he said former prime minister Sharif would soon return to Pakistan from London.
Answering another question, he said that budget making was the responsibility of his Adviser on Finance, Revenue and Economic Affairs Miftah Ismail, who was satisfactorily performing his job.
[With additional input from APP]
Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi has advised former prime minister Nawaz Sharif not to prolong his stay in London and come back to face the trial pending against him in the accountability court.
Sharif and his daughter Maryam Nawaz are likely to return to Pakistan soon, but may seek exemption from court appearance for the next hearing, it is learnt.
Some in the PML-N believe that Sharif should stay on in London on the pretext of his ailing wife and skip the court proceedings even if an exemption is not granted.
PM Abbasi stresses need to ensure justice for oppressed
There is a likelihood that Sharif may face conviction in the trial initiated on the orders of the Supreme Court in the Panamagate case.
Other PML-N leaders, including the new president Shehbaz Sharif and PM Abbasi, are of the view that Sharif should come back to Pakistan and face the trial regardless of the outcome.
During a meeting between the former premier and his successor held in London on Saturday, Abbasi is said to have advised Sharif that his presence in Pakistan was necessary to politically boost the ruling party ahead of the general elections. PML-N leader Ishaq Dar was also present at the meeting.
“Mian sahib’s absence from the country in the wake of his ongoing trial in the accountability court will allow the opposition parties to contend that Mian sahib escaped to skip trial… this could adversely affect our party in the general elections,” said one of the aides of the PM, requesting anonymity.
However, a senior leader who is known to be a trusted confidante of Sharif, claims that the former PM is in no mood to prolong his stay in London.
“After months of political canvassing, Mian sahib has built a narrative that he is being targeted by discriminatory accountability and he would face the trial come what may. But if he skips [the trial] and takes refuge in London, wouldn’t it amount to his political annihilation? He is fully aware of the situation and will never allow this to happen,” he said.
On Wednesday, former PM, his daughter, son-in-law Captain (retd) Safdar and some other family members had left for London. The same day, PM Abbasi also landed in London to attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM).
The three-day event (April 18-20) concluded on Friday and Abbasi was expected to return home the same day but decided to extend his stay to meet Sharif.
Chairman of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Imran Khan also flew to Britain to take part in a fundraising event in Manchester on Saturday.
The presence of three political bigwigs in the UK gave rise to speculations that something was afoot and the government and opposition leaders could be trying to hold secret deliberations on the caretaker set-up using ‘indirect channels’.
However, sources denied that the purpose of Abbasi and Sharif’s presence in London was to hold discussions on the caretaker set-up. The former PM wanted to discuss his return to Pakistan with the incumbent PM, according to insiders.
On Friday, the Accountability Court accepted the request of Sharif and Maryam for exemption from hearing for one-day (Friday) but dismissed their application seeking exemption from personal appearance for a week.
PM Abbasi in London for Commonwealth meeting
The court remarked that if required, the accused could file a fresh exemption plea on the next hearing, on Monday.
Sources said that the former PM and his daughter might seek exemption from the hearing on Monday but would return to Pakistan to attend the next hearing.
Prime Minister Abbasi asserted that the PML-N would push forward the slogan of 'sanctity of vote' during its election campaign.
Talking to newsmen, the PM said that the PML-N would contest the election and succeed too. He also said the name of the caretaker prime minister would be decided by him and Leader of Opposition in the National Assembly Syed Khursheed Shah.
Answering a question, he said former prime minister Sharif would soon return to Pakistan from London.
Answering another question, he said that budget making was the responsibility of his Adviser on Finance, Revenue and Economic Affairs Miftah Ismail, who was satisfactorily performing his job.
[With additional input from APP]