Maryam rules out joining hands with govt

PML-N leader says Shehbaz had spoken of national reconciliation

ISLAMABAD:

PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz on Wednesday ruled out reconciliation with the ruling PTI in the wake of party president Shehbaz Sharif’s controversial statement about the formation of a national government – later refuted as a “passing remark” based on his “personal” opinion about a post-election situation.

“He [Shehbaz] had spoken of national reconciliation, not of government,” she told reporters outside the Islamabad High Court.

“An 'illegitimate and incompetent' government had been imposed on the people,” she added.

“Never in the history of the country has there been such an incompetent government.”

She maintained that the government's performance was a story of destruction as there was lawlessness in Pakistan.

To elaborate her point, she said women were being abused in the country “everywhere”.

Maryam also urged the people to “rid themselves” of the incumbent government and lashed out at the current process of accountability, terming it as “revenge”.

She said her father and three-time premier, Nawaz Sharif, had faced “three years of political revenge and punishment”.

“Nawaz Sharif will return to the country when the PML-N feels that he should return and will lead the party,” she added. “All parties need to unite against the government.”

Regarding the wedding of her son Junaid Safdar, Maryam said she had only one son for whom she did not seek permission from the government to go abroad to attend the ceremony.

Read Maryam Nawaz’s tone was regretful: Marri

Earlier, the IHC, which was hearing the appeal against the Avenfield reference decision, expressed its displeasure over the late arrival of Maryam for court proceedings.

A two-member bench of the IHC comprising Justice Aamer Farooq and Justice Moshin Akhtar Kayani heard the appeals of Maryam and her husband Capt (retd) Safdar.

During the hearing, Justice Farooq inquired about the presence of the appellants and remarked that should the court pass a strict order on their absence.

The court observed that Maryam’s lawyer Amjad Pervaiz should also have not filed the application for adjournment of the hearing.

The bench observed that these appeals were partly heard and now on every date a new application for adjournment was filed.

The IHC had even decided appeals of 2019-20 in other cases and this matter was still pending, the bench noted.

The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) prosecutor requested the court to cancel the bails of the two accused over their disappearance from the hearing.

The bench was told that Safdar was inside the mosque to offer prayers while Maryam would reach the court in a few minutes.

Later, the bench expressed its anger over “Maryam speaking loudly” as she arrived in the courtroom. It remarked that the accused deserved for bail cancellation as she did not know how to respect the court.

PML-N leader Atta Tarar arrived at the rostrum and apologised on the matter. After this, the court adjourned the hearing till September 8.

(With input from agencies)