Such decisions sow suspicions, says Saad Rafique

Describes it as a decision taken against Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif

LAHORE : Former railways minister Khawaja Saad Rafique has criticised the conviction of Abbasi and said it is similar to the judgment against Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif.

He was addressing a joint press conference with Jamiat Ulema-e-Pakistan leader Shah Owais Noorani.

Saad viewed that “Suspicions arise when decisions are given in the dark of night.”

"What was the point of giving the decision so late (11pm)?" Rafique asked, "in addition to making him [Abbasi] wait for the entire day."



He further said the decision is completely unjust and unfair. Such decision would divide the nation and sow the seeds of hatred in the country, he added.

Voicing previous claims of the party, he said PML-N has not been provided a level playing field. “Our leaders are entangled in cases.”
PML-N also issued a statement in which it condemned the verdict and said it is politically motivated and seeks to undermine the election campaign of the PML-N.

The decision given against Abbasi is completely unjust and unfair. He said that such a decision would divide the nation and sow the seed of haltered in Pakistan.

He said that PML-N has not been provided a level playing field. Moreover, our leaders were entangled in cases.



According to a statement issued by the party, the timing and manner of the judgment of Hanif Abbasi clearly shows a discriminatory attitude towards PML-N, targeting our party on the eve of the polls when PML-N is on the verge of winning the polls.

The verdict, like the judgment in the case of Nawaz Sharif, came after an inordinately long wait on Saturday close to midnight, and that too in the midst of the election campaign.

All cases against other politicians, including Imran Khan & Asif Ali Zardari, have been deferred till after the elections.

Only an exception has been made in case of PML-N’s Hanif Abbasi.

We condemn the mala fides behind the timing of this decision, which is politically motivated and seeks to undermine the election campaign of the PML-N.