Politicians react to accountability court verdict

Bizinjo, Rehman Malik, Gen (retd) Qayyum criticise ‘unfair, not free’ decision; Faisal Javed calls it...

ISLAMABAD: The accountability court’s verdict of a seven-year imprisonment and billions in fine against former PM Nawaz Sharif drew mixed reaction from political leaders belonging to different parties of the country on Monday.

Sharif, the PML-N supremo and three-time prime minister of Pakistan, was arrested from the courtroom after he was found guilty in the National Accountability Court (NAB) reference earlier today. The court, however, acquitted him in the Flagship reference but imposed a fine of Rs1.5 billion. His sons, Hassan and Hussain, were declared absconders.

Senior politician and National Party president, Mir Hasil Bizinjo criticised the court’s decision, saying it was not a free verdict and such decisions were not taken independently but on behest of the power that be. “This is a pre-planned verdict … the plan is to sideline 60 to 70 politicians through NAB [national accountability bureau] in the next two years,” he claimed.



The Balochistan politician said that similar tactics, used in the martial law eras, neither could end political parties nor would this maneuvering prove successful now.

Lamenting the adverse circumstances awaiting the Sharif family in the aftermath of today’s verdict, Senator Rehman Malik of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) said it would have been nice if the PML-N supremo spent his birthday (December 25) at home among his loved ones.

“I think Mian sb [Nawaz Sharif] expected the outcome … I personally believe he will get relief from the high court,” he remarked, adding that the former premier was unwell and will have to leave the country for medical treatment in the days to come. Malik predicted ‘big changes’ in the country’s political arena in near future.

Muttahida Qaumi Movement’s (MQM) Senator Barrister Muhammad Ali Saif opined that Nawaz Sharif would spend the next two to three months in prison before the matter is taken to the high court. “PML-N will obviously see this [verdict] as political victimisation … politics of confrontation is not in the national interest,” he added.



Senator General (retd) Abdul Qayyum of PML-N said without deliverance of justice, the country cannot progress. He said Nawaz Sharif was the only politician in the country’s 70-year history who appeared as many times before courts. “Verdicts should not be announced on political basis … the positive aspect of the court decision is that corruption was not proved in the Flagship reference.”

Senator Faisal Javed of the ruling party hailed today’s verdict, saying for the first time in the country’s history the powerful are seen in the clutches of law. “The country will only move forward by removing differences among the weak and powerful … they [opposition leaders] are paying the price of their misdeeds,” he remarked.

The PTI leader said the case being faced by the opposition leaders were not lodged by is party’s government. “It’s a very important day for Pakistan.”