Nawaz sealed deal with establishment for relief: PTI

ISLAMABAD:

A senior PTI leader on Saturday alleged that PML-N supremo and former premier Nawaz Sharif was given relief in the corruption cases against him because he had struck a “political deal” with the security establishment.

PTI Senior Vice President Fawad Chaudhry told The Express Tribune that the Sharif family had opted for a “back door deal with the establishment” instead of facing the cases on merit.

He further maintained that the Sharif family had acquired relief as it became part of the “regime-change operation”.

The PTI leadership refers the “regime-change operation” to the time when its chairman Imran Khan was removed from the post of the prime minister through a no-confidence motion by the then united opposition and the incumbent ruling alliance in April this year.

To a question if Nawaz sealed the pact with former army chief Gen (retd) Qamar Javed Bajwa as the time he had referred to was before the retirement of the ex-military head, Fawad replied that deals were not that straightforward and there were always grey areas.

The former federal information minister claimed that the Sharif family was “managing the FIA [Federal Investigation Agency]” and “influencing the courts”.

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He added that if the Sharif family believed that it was innocent, then it should not influence the courts.

“The cases against the Sharif family are based on solid evidence,” he maintained.

“Laws were amended, witnesses harassed, [and] lawyers changed to give clean chit to the Sharif family in the cases [against it],” Fawad insisted, adding that such “mockery of justice” was at an “unparalleled scale”.

The PTI leader’s remarks came in response to Nawaz’s statement where he commented on an apology issued by a British publication, The Daily Mail, on its "mistake" in an article it had published in 2019.

The PML-N supremo said the apology was proof of the Sharif family and his party’s innocence.

Talking to the media in London, Nawaz claimed that the “false allegations of money laundering, corruption, commission, kickbacks, and misuse of office” were made by the publication against his brother, incumbent Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, on the directives of PTI leaders Imran and Shehzad Akbar.

Nawaz, while referring to the PTI leadership, questioned why those embroiled in corruption from “head to toe” were levelling accusations against his family and the ruling alliance.

In his official statement, Fawad lashed out at Nawaz for escaping the country by lying to the court and said undoubtedly the Sharif family had introduced the culture of “corruption and fraud” in Pakistan.

Fawad claimed that “fugitive Nawaz and his cronies” had looted the country with both hands and escaped the country by lying to the courts.

He added that the PML-N supremo did not have the courage to face the courts.

The former federal information minister maintained that British journalists had already unveiled all the facts related to The Daily Mail issue, adding that no court proceedings were conducted of the case prepared by Shahzad Akbar against PM Shehbaz.

Fawad claimed that the cases against PM Shehbaz and his sons involving Rs24 billion were “ended by managing the FIA.”

He alleged that all illegal and inhuman actions in Pakistan were initiated by PML-N, adding that the practice of using the process of accountability against political opponents was also introduced by the party.

In addition, he claimed that the PML-N had used all immoral and illegal tactics against late former premier Benazir Bhutto but unfortunately, her heirs had now joined the ranks of those who were involved in her character assassination.

“The PTI did not believe in vengeful and vindictive politics,” he said while once again throwing the gauntlet to Nawaz that he should come to Pakistan and face his cases on merit.

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He also claimed that Nawaz was not disqualified for taking salary from his son, but for not providing the money trail of properties worth billions in London.

Fawad maintained that Nawaz’s brother, PM Shehbaz, had ruined the country's “fast-thriving economy”.

He chided PM Shehbaz for issuing a message on the International Human Rights Day and Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto’s video message about Facebook monetisation.

He said human rights’ record was the worst in the history of Pakistan and the agreement for monetisation of Facebook in the country was signed during the tenure of the PTI government.