Shehbaz opposes trying Maulana Fazl under Article 6

Maulana Fazl didn't occupy federal capital for seven month like Imran did in 2014: Shehbaz Sharif

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Shehbaz Sharif has condemned Prime Minister Imran Khan's call to try Jamaat-e-Ulema-e-Islami chief Maulana Fazlure Rehman under high treason, Express News reported.

Speaking to media outside his apartment in London late Saturday, Shehbaz quipped that the Maulana did not hold the federal capital hostage for seven months like Imran did in 2014.

The PML-N leader was referring to the premier's candid talk with journalists on Friday in which he said Maulana Fazl should be charged under Article 6 of the Constitution for his 13-day-long sit-in in November last year.

Shehbaz flew to the British capital alongwith his brother Nawaz Sharif for the latter's medical treatment on November 20, 2019 - four days after the LHC directed the federal government to remove Nawaz's name from the ECL for four weeks.

Prior to that, Nawaz, who is serving a seven-year prison sentence in the Al Azizia corruption reference, was granted eight-week bail on medical grounds by the Islamabad High Court on October 27.

Nawaz's 90-year-old mother leaves for London today

Nawaz's health

The Sharif brothers' mother, Begum Shamim also arrived in London to see her ailing son. Shehbaz added that the family was awaiting government's decision on Maryam Nawaz's request to visit her father. Previously, Shehaz said Nawaz's medical procedures were postponed twice due to Maryam's absence.

The PML-N vice president was granted post-arrest bail by a Lahore High Court bench against two surety bonds worth Rs20 million and deposit of an additional Rs70 million in a National Accountability Bureau (NAB) investigation pertaining to the Chaudhry Sugar Mills.  She was also ordered to surrender her passport to secure release.

Maryam then moved the LHC seeking the return of her passport and one-time permission to fly to London for six weeks to see her ailing father. She stated that her father’s health was critical and she was under unexplainable stress because of her inability to be with him at a time when he needs extra care. She said her father is dependent on her. The high court directed the federal government to decide on the matter.

In December 2019, the cabinet sub-committee, tasked to review Maryam’s plea, decided against allowing a convict to leave Pakistan.  In January 2020, the federal cabinet placed Maryam’s name on the ECL for the second time in the same case.

Political victimisation

Shehbaz accused the incumbent government of targetting his family and party. "There have been multiple raids at the PML-N offices in Model Town, Lahore."

The PML-N president was adamant that the party will come out strong.

Criticising the ruling party, Shehbaz said the Peshawar Bus Rapid Transit project, Billion Tree Tsunami, lawlessness, unemployment and a dismal economy represented Naya Pakistan.

In comparison, he added, PML-N's Lahore Safe City project was a success that even "Imran was surprised to see".

Shehbaz also criticised the ruling party for its inability to control inflation, corruption and power tariff. "Today, the nation should decide who is corrupt," he said. He alleged that the Prime Minister House was full of "robbers and hoarders".