Maryam breaks months-long silence, says she cannot be ‘threatened’

PML-N vice president appears before media for first time since she was granted bail from LHC in November 2019

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PML-N leader Maryam Nawaz on Thursday finally broke her months-long silence to reaffirm her commitment to the top leadership’s narrative of civilian supremacy amid mounting criticism from the party’s own ranks over the Sharif brothers’ prolonged absence from the country.

“I remained silent due to some personal reasons,” former prime minister Nawaz Sharif’s daughter told reporters in Islamabad accompanied by PML-N leaders Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Miftah Ismail and Marriyum Aurangzeb.

“If anyone thinks that my I can be intimidated or subdued by putting in jail, they should know that my commitment to civilian supremacy and the [rule of] Constitution has strengthened instead of weakening,”

دو دفعہ بیگناہ جیل میں ڈال کر کوئی اگر سمجھتا ہے کہ وہ روک سکتا ہے,ڈرا دھمکا سکتا ہے یا خوف میں مبتلا کرسکتا ہے تو وہ جان لے کہ میری جو سویلین بالادستی جمہوریت اور آئین کے ساتھ کمٹمنٹ ہے اور پہلے سے اور زیادہ مضبوط ہوئی ہے.@MaryamNSharif pic.twitter.com/tuuHcaLdxy

— PMLN (@pmln_org) March 12, 2020

Maryam, who faces charges of money laundering and is currently out on bail in the Chaudhry Sugar Mills case, urged her father not to abandon his medical treatment abroad and return to the country because of her.

“My father left the country for medical treatment when his life was in danger. His condition is better than before and I want him to continue undergoing treatment. I don’t want to cause him any pain and return [before the treatment ends] for me.”

Maryam had moved the Lahore High Court seeking the return of her passport and one-time permission to be with her ailing father in London. The court had directed the government to decide the matter. However, her request was turned down by the federal cabinet on the recommendation of a subcommittee.

The daughter of the Sharif family patriarch said she adhered to party discipline. “Whenever I am instructed by the party leadership and seniors to come forward and play my role, you will not find me holding back.”

کہا جاتا ہے مریم کے بھائی ہیں وہ دیکھ بھال کررہے ہیں لیکن میرا بھی دل کرتا ہےمیں والد کےپاس ہوں۔
چاہے تین چار بچےہوں والد تو ایک ہی ہوتاہے۔@MaryamNSharif pic.twitter.com/2dpSsdA73j

— PMLN (@pmln_org) March 12, 2020