I’m witness to Shehbaz Sharif asking for NRO-type deal, claims Sheikh Rashid

Don't know if Zardari, Nawaz and Maryam have sought similar relief: AML chief

Minister for Railways Sheikh Rashid claimed on Monday that he had witnessed Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Shehbaz Sharif asking for a National Reconciliation Ordinance- (NRO) type deal.

Shehbaz, who is the Opposition Leader in the National Assembly, had been charged with misuse of authority as Punjab chief minister and was released on bail by the Lahore High Court on February 14.

Addressing a news conference in Lahore, Rashid, the chief of the Awami Muslim League (AML), said he did not know if Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) co-chairperson Asif Ali Zardari, former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and his daughter Maryam Nawaz had also sought similar relief.

“I challenge Shehbaz Sharif to face me on the issue of NRO and if my claims proved wrong I would quit politics,” the AML chief said.

He maintained that Prime Minister Imran Khan would never strike a deal with "corrupt politicians".

Without naming leadership of the rival parties, Rashid said, “Those who pretend to be very powerful while in government cannot even spend four days in prison”

Speaking on Nawaz's medical treatment, the minister said that the "real issue was to get bail in corruption cases".

Expressing his anger over PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari's 'derogatory' comments against him, the AML chief of a tough response.

He said Bilawal had criticised him twice in the past but he did not respond to him; however, "if he [Bilawal] does it again it will not go unanswered".

Rashid also avoided responding to criticism of Bilawal's sister Bakhtawar and PML-N’s leader Maryam, saying: “Both are like my daughters and it is not appropriate for me to respond to them.”

In a tweet Bakhtawar had demanded to sack the railways minister, saying that he had given "death threat" to Bilawal.

From spewing hate speech, Fed ministers now hurling direct death threats at @BBhuttoZardari. Having extremist right wingers threaten a Bhutto is nothing new but 4 a cabinet member 2 give an OPEN DEATH THREAT to someone whose entire family were killed is disgusting. #sackthisbigot https://t.co/FGynObXICI

— Bakhtawar B-Zardari (@BakhtawarBZ) March 17, 2019