Nawaz regrets CJ's efforts to 'protect' Imran

Says chief justice 'jeopardising' his own future by 'supporting' person involved in massive wrongdoings

LONDON:

Former prime minister and PML-N leader Nawaz Sharif has expressed his disappointment with Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial for allegedly "supporting" and "protecting" PTI Chairman Imran Khan, warning that he was risking his own future by defending him.

He said it was sad to witness the CJP’s support despite being aware of the PTI chief’s alleged wrongdoings.

Talking to reporters, the PML-N supremo also took on the former chief justice and his colleagues currently occupying benches in the Supreme Court, accusing them of conspiring against him in the past, dissolving his government, and pushing for his disqualification and arrest.

He pointed out the irony of the CJP actively working to protect someone involved in the theft of billions of rupees. “While today the chief justice is active to save the person involved in the theft of billions of rupees.”The former premier’s criticism followed CJP Bandial’s observation on Wednesday that there were "mistakes" in a trial court's verdict convicting Imran Khan in the Toshakhana case.

The verdict had found Imran guilty of "corrupt practices" related to concealing details of state gifts, resulting in a three-year prison sentence and disqualification from contesting general elections for five years.

Talking to reporters, Nawaz Sharif also referred to an interview given by retired justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui who claimed that former chief justice Saqib Nisar was part of a group of judges acting against the spirit of democracy and conspiring against him.

He recalled former CJ Nisar had advocated for his disqualification and imprisonment, as well as that of his daughter, Maryam Nawaz.

"The former chief justice had stated that Nawaz Sharif should be disqualified and jailed. It is on record that Nisar also demanded Maryam Nawaz and myself to be imprisoned while bringing Imran Khan," Mr Sharif told reporters.

Highlighting Imran’s alleged wrongdoings, he accused the PTI leader of destroying Pakistan's economy, morals, and culture, as well as repeatedly violating the country's constitution.

Without explicitly mentioning his name, Mr Sharif criticised Imran’s attitude while in opposition, claiming that he had done nothing substantial aside from protesting, while he and his party had accomplished much with the grace of Allah.

Furthermore, Mr Sharif recalled Imran’s statements in which he pledged to remove fans and air conditioning from his jail cell, put a rope around his neck and physically remove him from the Prime Minister House.