Pakistan

Nawaz Sharif en route to Kot Lakhpat jail in solidarity rally after six-week bail expires

A large number of party workers and supporters headed by Maryam Nawaz accompany the PML-N chief to Lahore prison

News Desk May 07, 2019

Hamza Shehbaz (right) driving Nawaz Sharif to Kot Lakhpath jail. SCREENGRAB

Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif has left Jati Umra for the Lahore's Kot Lakhpat jail in a solidarity rally after his six weeks bail expired on Tuesday (today).

Maryam Nawaz, daughter of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo who is accompanied her father, confirmed the development in a tweet.

قائد عوام محمد نوازشریف کا قافلہ کوٹ لکھپت جیل جانے کیلیے تیار
#جھکا_نہیں_نوازشریف pic.twitter.com/VRvFUwA8LJ
— PMLN (@pmln_org) May 7, 2019

She also posted a video on the microblogging website which shows a large number of party workers and supporters are gathered outside the Jati Umra residence.

Raiwind gate ....... pic.twitter.com/mUmwAHdupv
— Maryam Nawaz Sharif (@MaryamNSharif) May 7, 2019

Hamza Shehbaz, one of the 15 vice presidents of the PML-N, is driving the disqualified premier to the Lahore jail.

قائد نوازشریف سے اظہار یکجہتی کیلیے لیگی کارکنان کی کثیر تعداد جاتی امرا کے باہر موجود#جھکا_نہیں_نوازشریف pic.twitter.com/jzbDeRTMVe
— PMLN (@pmln_org) May 7, 2019

The Supreme Court on May 3 had dismissed the Pakistan Muslim League-Nwaz (PML-N) supremo's review petition seeking permanent bail on medical grounds and the permission to go abroad for treatment.

On March 26, he was granted six weeks bail on medical grounds.

Stringent security measures were in place at the Nawaz’s residence when Kot Lakhpat officials, headed by Superintendent jail Shehzad, reached there.

قائد مسلم لیگ (ن) کے رہائش سے نکلتے ہی کارکنوں کا والہانہ استقبال۔ نواز شریف کارواں کوٹ لکھپت کی جانب رواں دواں، مریم نواز، حمزہ شہباز ہمراہ https://t.co/vUplGbcvEO
— PMLN (@pmln_org) May 7, 2019

An accountability court in December last year sentenced the three-time premier to seven-year rigorous imprisonment after it found him guilty in Al-Azizia reference, one of the three graft cases filed by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in line with the Supreme Court order.

Speaking outside the Nawaz's residence, PML-N senior leader Khawaja Asif said that Prime Minister Imran Khan is following the way of destruction, however, he added that the ousted prime minister is still stand by his narrative of "Vote ko izzat do" (respect the sanctity of vote).

۔ "ووٹ کو عزت دو" کے نعرے کے حرمت کا محافظ قربانیوں کی داستان رقم کرتے ھوئے سال میں چوتھی دفعہ جیل کی جانب چل پڑا ۔
نواز شریف تیرا اللہ حامی و ناصر
— Khawaja M. Asif (@KhawajaMAsif) May 7, 2019

Former defence minister Khurram Dastagir also released a video statement on micro-blogging website Twitter in support of his leader.

صرف ایک شخص پوری جرت کے ساتھ میدان میں کھڑا ہے اور وہ ہے میرا اور آپکا لیڈر نواز شریف #جھکا_نہیں_نوازشریف pic.twitter.com/wACFUu1jqq
— PMLN Media (@PmlnMedia) May 7, 2019

Soon after the PML-N solidarity procession reached Ring Road, Maryam once again took to Twitter for sharing a video of a long queue of vehicles, describing as "jam packed".