Daily Times

Lahore: Setting the stage for his return to the country on Friday (tomorrow), former prime minister Nawaz Sharif addressed a press conference on Wednesday that was broadcast live by the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz on popular social media platform Facebook.

Addressing his voters with his daughter Maryam Nawaz by his side, he said he was returning to the country to fulfill his pledge to ‘honour the vote’. “I’m coming to pay off the debt of the nation that thrice elected me the prime minister,” he said.

Sharif asked why no prime minister in the country’s history had been able to complete their five-year term. “Were of them like Nawaz Sharif?” he asked, maintaining that the forthcoming elections would prove to be a referendum, and urged the public to come out of their homes ‘like lions’ to vote. He said he was leaving behind his wife in London in Allah Almighty’s protection.

Sharif said on July 25 he and Maryam would hear the people’s ‘judgement’ from jail. “That verdict will break the bars of the prison,” he said, referring to the upcoming elections.

Further, he highlighted that three generations of his family had gone through the accountability process and yet no corruption was ever proved against them. Referring to the Avenfield reference verdict, Sharif said that it was written in the verdict that he had been absolved of corruption charges.

Addressing the Armed Forces of Pakistan, Sharif said he respected every institution of the country and highlighted that it was under his command that the country became a nuclear-capable state. “I have immense respect for the ghazis and shuhada of Pakistani forces. The martyrs have sacrificed their today for our tomorrow,” he said, adding that questions raised on segments within the higher echelons of the forces [for their role in the Panama Papers Joint Investigation Team] would have to be answered.

“The people of Pakistan will demand the answers to these questions now and will not rest until they are answered. By putting me in jail, will you also imprison these questions that I ask?” he asked.

Sharif maintained that there were two different standards of justice – one for him, and the other for the ‘ladlas’ [favourites]. He said those rejoicing at the news of his imprisonment must be asked how did a person whose name never appeared in the Panama Papers leaks got sent to the prison [in the case].

He reiterated his criticism of the Supreme Court-mandated joint investigation team (JIT) in the Panamagate case, raising question marks on the inclusion of representatives of military intelligence agencies in the team.

“Who in Pakistan’s history has ever returned to the country after hearing that they have been sentenced to 11 years rigorous imprisonment? Is there any daughter in the country’s history who has come back after being sentenced for eight years?” he asked, refering to Maryam.

On Maryam’s sentence, he said that in their hate those responsible for the matter even forgot the stature daughters enjoyed in Pakistan. “This is not a prison sentence for my daughter. It is a sentence for every daughter of the nation,” he said.

Sharif also referred to the inclusion of the country’s name in the grey list of the Financial Action Task Force, asking if that was the success attained over the years, without referring anyone in particular.

Published in Daily Times, July 12^th 2018.