‘Nawaz suffered hardships for peoples’ sake’

Maryam Nawaz says seven-year long period of sadness is about to end on 21st

ISLAMABAD:

PML-N Senior Vice President Maryam Nawaz has claimed that her father and former prime minister Nawaz Sharif has seen more days of hardships than days of power and glory, adding that the PML-N supreme leader has gone through these trials for the sake of the people of Pakistan.

“The sadness that has prevailed over Pakistan for the last seven years is slowly turning into hope,” Maryam, who is regarded as Nawaz’s political scion, said in a reference to Nawaz’s scheduled return to the country on October 21. She was addressing a rally organized in Punjab’s provincial capital on Sunday.

“No one is more aware of this truth than you that the person who is returning on October 21 has seen fewer days of power in his political life, and he has seen more days of challenges for the sake of the people of Pakistan,” she said.

پچھلے 7 سال سے جو اداسی پاکستان پر چھائی ہوئی تھی وہ امید میں بدلتی جارہی ہے کیونکہ آپ سے زیادہ اس سچائی سے کوئی واقف نہیں ہے جو شخص 21 اکتوبر کو واپس آرہا ہے اس نے اپنی سیاسی زندگی میں پاکستان کی عوام کی خاطر اقتدار کے دن کم دیکھے ہیں اور مشکلات کے دن زیادہ دیکھے ہیں۔
چیف… pic.twitter.com/IsZShSxYCz

— PMLN (@pmln_org) October 8, 2023

Over six years back, in July 2017, the apex court of the country disqualified Nawaz Sharif for life while hearing petitions filed against the former premier in the wake of the Panama Papers scandal.

Later, in December 2018, an accountability court had convicted the PML-N leader in one of the three cases registered against him on the order of the Supreme Court.

Read More: PML-N revs up campaign to welcome Nawaz

Nawaz was, however, granted a rare permission to get medical treatment abroad in October 2019 in view of his deteriorating health. Last month, the PML-N had finally announced that the former premier would return to the country on October 21, ending his four-year self-exile.

At the Sunday’s rally, Maryam highlighted the PML-N's economic achievements under Nawaz's leadership.  "Throughout the PTI's tenure, securing a position in a major ministry seemed to depend on how vehemently you could criticize your political rivals. They engaged in relentless disparagement, hurling accusations our way, but we choose not to indulge in such behavior," she remarked.

Amidst an enthusiastic crowd displaying placards bearing Nawaz Sharif's images, Maryam expressed her anticipation of the joyous reception her father would receive upon his return. “If this is the situation on October 8, then what will be the enthusiasm of people on October 21?” she said.

Read More: PML-N snubs talk of Nawaz’s return delay

Maryam also took a swipe at the PTI which ruled the country between August 2018 and April 2022 and described its leaders as “jokers”.

"Throughout the PTI's tenure, securing a position in a major ministry seemed to depend on how vehemently you could criticize your political rivals. They engaged in relentless disparagement, hurling accusations our way, but we choose not to indulge in such behavior," she remarked.

The PML-N’s chief organizer claimed that the health insurance card initiative was originally started by her father but it was hijacked later by the PTI government, adding that the former ruling party wrongfully took credit for the initiative.

During the PTI’s rule, the provincial governments of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) where the PTI was in power issued Sehat Insaf Cards to citizens allowing them to get free medical treatment and government and private hospitals.