Sharif should return after complete recovery

PML-N says party supremo went abroad with court's permission


Our Correspondent September 06, 2020
Former PM Nawaz has been in London since November last year. PHOTO: FILE

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LAHORE:

Backing a decision of the Sharif family, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) on Saturday pleaded to its Quaid, Nawaz Sharif, not to compromise on his health and return to Pakistan only after complete recovery.

At a joint news conference after a consultative meeting, PML-N Secretary General Ahsan Iqbal said that the judiciary gave Nawaz Sharif permission to complete his treatment abroad, therefore unless that treatment was completed, Nawaz should not return.

He said that matters of life and death are not decided in talk-shows. “The party will not compromise in any way over the life its Quaid Nawaz Sharif,” said Iqbal, who was flanked by former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, PML-N Parliamentary party leader Khawaja Asif and others.

“The PML-N has decided to plead to Nawaz Sharif that he should not return to the country unless his doctors give him the fitness certificate. The party requests that Nawaz Sharif should return only after the completion of his medical treatment,” he said.

“Nawaz Sharif is an invaluable asset for Pakistan and millions of its people who love him and support him which is why there can be no compromise on his health and safety, the former interior minister told reporters.

The three times former prime minister, who was serving a seven-year sentence, has been in London since November last year after the Lahore High Court (LHC) allowed him to go abroad for four weeks for treatment for his heart ailment and an immune system disorder.

But recently, the government had said that it would use legal channels to bring him back. On September 2, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) had also directed Nawaz to appear before it and surrender to the authorities by September 10.

Iqbal that the party expected that courts also considered the state of healthcare capacities across the world due to the coronavirus outbreak. It is no secret, he said, the whole world faced the Covid-19 pandemic right after Nawaz went abroad for treatment.

“For months hospitals were only catering to Covid patients and treatment facilities were shut for everyone else. Nawaz Sharif is not the only one affected by these delays, as all patients across the world are affected by the pandemic in one way or the other,” he said.

“The judiciary of Pakistan allowed Nawaz to travel abroad under extremely unavoidable circumstances that posed a direct threat to his life. The judiciary gave Nawaz this permission to complete his treatment, therefore unless that treatment is complete, Nawaz should not return.”

Responding to a question, he said that Nawaz Sharif returned to Pakistan after he was sentences to fulfil the requirement of the law, leaving his beloved wife on the death-bed. Considering this precedence set by the PML-N Quaid, suspecting his intent would be an insult to his resolve, he added.

Criticising the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) for "conjecturing" about Nawaz's health, Iqbal said the ruling party had attacked the late Begum Kulsoom Nawaz with the most “irresponsible and scathing” remarks during her ailment, and even after her death the PTI leaders were unapologetic over their acts.

Iqbal said that the party’s legal team was evaluating the legal aspects of the situation. He mentioned that all reports regarding Nawaz’s treatment and medical condition were regularly submitted as per the court’s order and that would continue.

Opposition’s APC

Responding to another question regarding the all parties conference (APC) on September 20, he said the decision was taken by the Rahbar Committee. He added the APC had been called while the National Assembly would be in session on the proposal of the PML-N.

When asked about the opposition’s plans for ouster of the government, he said the PML-N wanted to give sufficient time to the PTI so that its “incapacity and incompetence” was exposed in front of the whole nation.

“The PML-N wants that the people see for themselves how the PTI is incapable of delivering and fulfilling any of the promises it made during its election campaign. Today the nation has seen that it was all lies, deceit and fraud,” he said.

“The truth of the PTI started from an economy of eggs, chickens to sheep and calves and it has now taken another turn with the hemp economy. It seems the PTI’s next move would be to sow poppy and marijuana,” he added.

Speaking on the occasion, senior party leader Khawaja Asif said in a sarcastic tone that the PTI wanted to get the entire nation “high”. He said PML-N Quaid Nawaz Sharif should know that the “entire nation is united and stronger like a rock under his leadership”.

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