Nawaz resurrects call for accountability

Ex-PM says accountability crucial to avoid future conspiracies

LAHORE:

lWith graft convictions behind him, emboldened former prime minister Nawaz Sharif has resurrected his demand for accountability with a pitch that those who had ousted him have in fact taken revenge out on the people – a deed he deems beyond his power to forgive.

The PML-N supremo, who since his return from London had, by and large, kept a lid on his demand of full-scale accountability against the elements involved in his ouster, addressing the party parliamentary meeting on Wednesday, said that he did not return with any ambition of revenge, but accountability must take place.“Someone should ask them as to why they inflicted punishment upon the people of Pakistan.”

"This call for accountability isn't personal,” he stressed, clarifying that it was on behalf of the people who endured the fallout of the conspiracy against him. He denounced anyone “gambling” with the nation's well-being as enemies of the state.

The PML-N supremo further stressed the importance of not letting this pass, stating that if those responsible are not held accountable today, they will repeat such conspiracies tomorrow.

Nawaz Sharif took names of the top army generals at that time, asserting that he never conspired against Gen (retired) Qamar Javed Bajwa, or General (retired) Raheel Sharif.

Nawaz’s latest calls for accountability are an echo of his previous full-throated demands for holding those who ousted him responsible, revived after a brief lull following his recent acquittals.

From his initial demands for accountability, aimed at judges and former generals while residing in London, to prioritising development over accountability upon his homecoming, to suggestions of holding elements within the judiciary responsible, (including a former general), Nawaz’s politics of accountability appears to have completed a full circle.

Continuing during the meeting, Nawaz went on to highlight the stark contrast in prices, noting that while bread used to cost Rs4 during their tenure, it now stands at Rs20. Similarly, sugar, which was Rs50, has soared to Rs150.

He expressed concern over the escalating electricity prices, making it challenging for people to afford essential bills, school fees, and house rent. Ensuring two meals a day has become a struggle for the impoverished.

He claimed that under his party’s government, millions secured jobs, significantly reducing poverty for tens of millions.

He mentioned that the PML-N's primary focus remained on delivering tangible results, including building roads and motorways, bringing CPEC to Pakistan, bolstering national defence, ending power outages, elevating the country's foreign exchange to historic high and managing stable prices for essential commodities and the dollar.

He proudly mentioned that the JF-17 aircraft deal with China bears his name.Recalling his Panama trial, he alleged that to secure a verdict against him, Justice Ijazul Ahsan, who had already ruled against him, was appointed as a monitoring judge, indicating an intention to convict him. “Cases were run so expeditiously that courts remained open on the weekends.”

He said that being the PM, he was informed by the sitting judge of SC Justice Azmat Sheikh, out of vengeance, that Adiala Jail had available space for a new inmate due to a case involving the promotion of his relatives, who were civil servants before him.

Recalling his days of his wife's sickness and his conviction, Nawaz said he was not sure if leaving his wife on deathbed was a wise decision or not. He said that he and his daughter had returned to face courts, and serve his time.

He said that he was content with the decisions of the court that had acquitted him from both his cases, adding they were frivolous cases, wherein they had no evidence, no proof against him.

“They never had any evidence against him which was why courts had relied on iqama. The decision to oust him based on iqama has become a joke in the world.”

He said that given that there was no proof of any wrongdoing against him of any sort, the decision of the courts against him was getting reversed expeditiously.

Harkening back to 2017 days, Nawaz alleged that using concocted material, conspiracy mongers used to spread lies against him, day in and day out. “Those lies have been blown to bits today.”