Maryam asks SC to steer clear of Imran's politics

Says SC must remain neutral as PTI chief tries to drag it into political thicket

BAHAWALPUR:

PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz on Saturday requested the Supreme Court to maintain a distance from the politics of PTI Chairman Imran Khan who, she alleged, was dragging the courts into the political thicket to tilt scales in his favour.

Addressing a public gathering in Bahawalpur, Maryam called out the former prime minister for first dragging institutions into politics before resorting to profanities against them when the decisions do not favour him.

The PML-N leader’s request to the top court come after the PTI’s decision earlier on Saturday to move the supreme and high courts regarding the "violence" inflicted on the PTI workers and supporters by the government during its recent Azadi March to Islamabad.

"We are taking the petition to the Supreme Court on Monday and asking whether or not a peaceful protest in this country is a right of a democratic party. Tell us clearly if this harassment would continue if we stage a peaceful protest," Imran Khan said.

“Today he [Imran Khan] went to the Supreme Court and thinks that the courts are bound to help him wherever he fails,” Maryam told the gathering.

“Is it the job of the courts to come to his rescue whenever he stumbles?” she questioned.

She warned the PTI chief that the revolution he was trying to bring through the apex court will be rejected by the people of Pakistan.

"Therefore, with respect, I want to ask the Supreme Court to maintain distance from the politics of this anarchist as the Supreme Court is an institution of Pakistan and it should remain impartial," she added.

Maryam continued to berate the former premier for giving nothing to the country but poverty, inflation, and incivility. She dared Imran Khan to name a single positive contribution he made to the country.

She said that Imran's long march had sputtered, and this time, he sought help from the apex court.

Maryam said that all the lofty promises that Imran Khan tried to sell during his time about making  South Punjab a province were lies, adding he completely forgot the region once he ascended to power.

Referring to Imran Khan's claims about a foreign conspiracy that allegedly toppled him, the PML-N leader said that Pakistan faced no danger from foreign powers but from Imran.

"Pakistan is at risk from the fitna and fasad (disorder and anarchy)."

'Imran to be blamed for IMF conditions'

Defending the government's decision to withdraw fuel subsidies, she said that the government had to increase the prices of petroleum products to meet the demands of the agreement between Imran Khan and the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

"Shehbaz Sharif announced the biggest relief package of Rs28 billion for the nation in the history of Pakistan," said Maryam, adding that Nawaz Sharif and Shehbaz will take the country out of the crisis within a few months.

She claimed that the former premier could not even draw 25,000 people for his long march but claims that the party was ill-prepared.

"You failed to prepare for the march, but you prepared to set fire and attack the police?"