PML-N confident court order will boost voter support

Party spokesperson says there was no decision of not going to Lahore Airport

LAHORE: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has expressed serious reservation over the adjournment of hearing appeals against the conviction of Nawaz Sharif and his daughter Maryam Nawaz till after the upcoming general elections.

The senior leadership of the party however maintains that the decision would not affect the election results, if anything they claim the decision would further convince voters to come out on the polling day in support of the PML-N.

Senator Pervez Rashid talking to The Express Tribune said that PML-N is being deprived of its right to run an election campaign. He said Sharif’s slogan of giving respect to vote has now reached every nook and corner of the country.

“The elections are being made controversial and such decisions cast shadow over the entire process”, said the PML-N leader adding that a scandalous election will further worsen economic situation of the country.

Another party leader said that in anticipation of jail, the ousted prime minister ran a nationwide campaign to spread his slogan of “vote ko izat do”. However, the leader said it was known in the party that Shehbaz Sharif would not continue with the same narrative as his elder brother.

Meanwhile, party spokesperson Mariyyum Aurangzeb in a press conference said we expected the same haste shown in giving decision against Sharif and his daughter would be shown in deciding their appeal.

The former information minister also raised concern over how the father-daughter duo were ‘greeted’ by security forces at the Lahore airport, “it seemed like they were there to arrest some high profile terrorist”, she said. The PML-N leader further told the thrice elected PM is not being treated well in prison for which Shehbaz has written to the Punjab government.



The party spokesperson further negated a recent claim made by a senior PML-N leader Khawaja Asif during a TV program that the party had made no such decision to reach the Lahore airport for Sharif’s welcome.

The former foreign minister in his interview on Monday revealed the decision was to end the rally at ‘Jora Pull’ which was made in view of the road blockages in city. “ The decision was taken two days before the rally during a top level party meeting”, divulged Asif claiming that all party leaders and not just Shehbaz made the final call.

Surprisingly his statement completely negated the PML-N President’s claim as he during a press conference on July 14 stated that a flood of party workers had poured out to participate in the mammoth rally which hence got out of control. Shehbaz also attributed the size of the rally as the reason they failed to reach the airport despite delay in flight carrying the Sharifs.



In a bid to defuse this confusion, Marriyum said that the decision was to reach Lahore airport till the very last party meeting. “We at no point ever decided to not go to the airport”, she exclaimed adding that it was only due to the size of the rally they failed to reach Lahore airport.

Interestingly, the last meeting which was held a day before the rally was attended by all senior leaders but Khawaja Asif “He did not physically participate in the meeting”, she said as she refused to respond to any questions regarding her colleague’s statement.

Furthermore, regarding injustices against PML-N, Marriyum said that according to PML-N anti rigging cell, from 10 to 15 July a staggering 17,606 cases were registered against 16,866 of our workers under anti-terrorism act.

“How does receiving our leader equate to terrorism”, the PML-N leader questioned adding that the party’s legal cell will soon move for quashing ATA charges from the FIR’s however they have decided not to apply for any bail as yet.

Moreover, she said that it has also come to our notice that PML-N banner and posters were being removed by government vehicles. “Even our TV ad highlighting how the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chief disrespects opposition parties and parliament was banned by PEMRA for it may have negative impact on children”.

“If such an ad will have negative effect on children then PEMRA should also ban Imran’s live addresses in which he frequently uses abusive language”, suggested Marriyum.