‘Puppet regime’ using political arm-twisting: Nawaz on Shehbaz’s arrest

Ousted prime minister and PML-N Quaid Nawaz Sharif, reacting to the arrest of Shehbaz Sharif, on Monday said that the “puppet regime” has ratified the All Parties Conference (APC) resolution by arresting his brother.

"Shehbaz Sharif had said that whether he is in prison or out, all the decisions made in the APC would be implemented," he wrote on his official Twitter handle.

"Make no mistake, we can never be bowed down by such strong-arm tactics," he added.

Earlier in the day, his daughter Maryam Nawaz also lambasted the government of Prime Minister Imran Khan and his “sponsors” after the arrest.

“No amount of strong-arm tactics can stop me from raising my voice for what is right,” she said while addressing a news conference flanked by other party leaders including Ahsan Iqbal and Rana Sanullah in Lahore.

Maryam said the party president was arrested not because of any crime but because he stood by his brother — ousted prime minister Nawaz Sharif.

“Shehbaz Sharif will never leave his brother Nawaz Sharif alone. Both are one... he is being punished for being loyal with his brother,” PML-N leader added.

Nawaz and Shehbaz stand united and those who wish to create differences between them would get disappointed, she remarked.

The PML-N president was arrested from the court premises after a two-judge bench rejected his interim bail plea in an asset beyond means and money laundering case earlier in the day.

Maryam said that if there was any rule of law in the country then one of the PM’s aides involved in alleged embezzlement would get arrested instead of Shehbaz Sharif.