'Nawaz didn't deliver a fiery speech, only stated facts'

Everyone is aware of how the PTI govt was established, says former premier

KARACHI:

Former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi on Thursday defended his party supremo's speech at the All Parties Conference and said Nawaz's speech was not 'fiery' and the party chief only stated the facts.

Nawaz, in his speech during the recently held APC, declared that the opposition was up not against Prime Minister Imran Khan but against those who had brought him into power in the 2018 elections.

The Sharif family patriarch, who has recently been declared a proclaimed offender by a court, reiterated his claim that the mandate of the people was stolen in the last general elections.

Abbasi added that "everyone is aware of how the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government was established," while addressing the media outside an accountability court.

Referring to Nawaz's speech further, Abbasi maintained that the speech exposed the problems of the country and the "hybrid-government" has failed.

The senior PML-N leader also criticised the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), saying the watchdog has "paralyzed the country and is destroying the lives of the people".

The former premier maintained that after the judgment of the Supreme Court (SC) and the High Court, NAB's performance has deteriorated. He demanded that a camera be installed inside the courtroom to show the public.

Moreover, Abbasi claimed that 'malicious bills' were passed in the Parliament which have nothing to do with the Financial Action Task Force (FATF). "NAB already has a money-laundering law but the bill says the government can hack into anyone's computer," he added.

Shehbaz Sharif, on Wednesday, fired a broadside against PTI hours after PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz’s media interaction triggered a tsunami of speculations of division among the party ranks.

The PML-N president avoided discussing the pressing issues of the day and left the press conference without taking any questions from the media, who were eager to know his reaction to Maryam, comments and the meetings between PML-N leaders with the military leadership.

Earlier, it was revealed that an 'emmisary' of Nawaz had met the army chief twice, and the same was also confirmed by the official military spokesperson.

LNG case hearing adjourned due to computer glitch

Earlier, an accountability court in Karachi heard a reference against the former prime minister among others, but the hearing was adjourned after the computer in the courtroom broke down.

The statement of the witness could not be recorded due to technical issues and the court adjourned the hearing till October 12. The court remarked that the statement would be recorded at the next hearing.