‘Time not right for Nawaz, Maryam to break silence’

Pervez Rashid says PML-N wants to give govt ample time before holding it accountable

LAHORE: Responding to the political silence of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and his daughter Maryam Nawaz, Senator Pervez Rashid has said that the time is not ‘politically correct for the two to make a public appearance’.

Talking to The Express Tribune on Sunday, Rashid said political leaders of their stature appeared in the public for a reason. He added that the correct time to address the public was before the elections and Sharif had already done that before his arrest.

The senior Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader said the party’s position on the government was very clear and it wanted to give the government ample time to function before holding it accountable.

After the hearing of flagship reference in an accountability court on October 30, Sharif told the media that his family members were still grieving over the death of his wife Kulsoom Nawaz.

Rumours are rife on social media about the silence of Sharif and Maryam who had openly criticised state institutions since the start of the Panama Papers case. However, since the suspension of their sentences in the Avenfield reference, the two have adopted silence.

Earlier, the party claimed that Sharif would resume his political activities after 40 days of mourning period over his late wife. The period has expired though, Sharif is still not active. Recently, he also turned down a request to participate in an elusive all-party conference for which JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman was mustering support.



Moreover, a TV interview of former Punjab minister Rana Mashood gave rise to the speculations that PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif had reached an understanding with the establishment.

The PML-N had instantly responded to the allegations levelled by the former minister and suspended his party membership. A three-member committee was also formed by Shehbaz on October 3 to submit a report in two weeks.

Party Chairman Raja Zafarul Haq told The Express Tribune that more time had been sought for completing the inquiry as party leaders had been busy with other issues and could not find time to carry out the inquiry.