PM scoffs at ‘attempts’ to abolish Nawaz’s sentence

Imran says it is ironic convicted criminals aspiring to become chief executive

ISLAMABAD:

Prime Minister Imran Khan said on Friday that it was regrettable that the bar association of the top court was willing to help end the disqualification of the ex-PM Nawaz Sharif, regretting that the acceptability of corruption was increasing in the society.

In addition, the prime minister said it was ironic that even “convicted criminals” were harbouring dreams of becoming prime minister of the country for the fourth time, noting that attempts were being made to abolish former premier Nawaz Sharif’s sentence.

Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Chaudhry Fawad Husain while talking to The Express Tribune revealed that the prime minister’s remarks came while discussing the decreasing morals of the society against corruption.

Referring to the former premier Nawaz Sharif’s sentence from the top court to the accountability court, the information minister revealed that PM Imran deplored that due to such people, acceptability of corruption had increased in the society to the extent that the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) was now saying that it wanted to help end disqualification of Sharif.

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“If that is to happen, then all those in jails should be released,” Fawad quoted the premier as saying. He said the premier wondered what is the fault of others facing jail terms when leniency has to be shown to such “corrupt people”.

Chairing a spokespersons meeting on Friday, the premier said political circles were abuzz with speculations about ending PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif's sentence. "How can the sentence of a convicted person be overturned,” another participant of the meeting quoted him as saying

Reiterating that the court had disqualified Sharif in the Panama Leaks case, and to date, he was unable to provide a money trail for his assets and failed to account for the money he allegedly laundered out of the country. “How can a convicted person become the prime minister and get his sentence revoked,” the participant added.

Sources said the premier has tasked the party spokespersons to highlight the corruption and incompetence of the previous periods.