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Dawn.com Updated December 25, 2018
Ahsan Iqbal addresses a presser in Islamabad. — File
PML-N leaders on Tuesday questioned the merits of the judgement against former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, and claimed that the ongoing process of accountability in the country was discriminating against opposition leaders but favouring the government.
A day after Nawaz Sharif was handed seven years in jail in the Al-Azizia Steel Mills corruption reference, an assortment of PML-N leaders, at a press conference in Islamabad, took turns to criticise the verdict as well as the federal government.
"The first case in which Nawaz Sharif was disqualified, the crime ascertained was that he did not take salary from his son," said former federal minister Ahsan Iqbal. "And this time the allegation levelled is that 'since your son sent you money, therefore you stand disqualified'.
"Now I want to raise this question that in the Middle East up to 3.5 million Pakistanis remit money to their families, so would they be considered their business partners or co-owners? If any son sends money to his parents, will they be held guilty?
"Nawaz Sharif was ascertained the owner of that company simply on the basis that his son sent him money — a practice that is done by millions of Pakistanis.
"Similarly, the ongoing accountability process is basically a selected prime minister committing selected accountability. PML-N legislators are being arrested whereas the PTI and its allies, no matter how severe the allegations on them, they are free to do anything.
"PML-N leaders are arrested during inquiry but PTI leaders, who even have references filed against them, are free and the law is not in motion against them. Nawaz Sharif appeared 165 times in the court but PTI leaders' cases get delayed at their leisure. They are given dates as per their preference.
"No one can arrest PTI leaders. All the summons and arrests are for PML-N leaders because this government is on ventilator. Another form of convention or Q league is being imposed on Pakistan in the form of PTI."
Mohammad Zubair urged the prime minister to also hold his own party leaders accountable, especially those who "have admitted themselves that they had offshore companies".
"We demand from NAB and the courts that the sense of urgency they have shown against the PML-N, we want to see the same against the PTI leaders.
The former Governor Sindh questioned why the case of prime minister's sister Aleema Khanum was wrapped up with "just a fine".
"If it was solved with a penalty then it means that she had done something wrong," Zubair said. "Why isn't the same penalty solution offered to the PML-N? Our question is how did she sent money abroad from here. The PM should set an example here.
"Moreover, you have ordered audits of Lahore Metro, Multan Metro and Pindi/Islamabad Metro ... why not Peshawar Metro? Why is there such a distinction? These twin standards are not acceptable and we demand of NAB that if they want to establish their credibility, there should be an across-the-board accountability."
Zubair demanded that the PTI leaders make complete disclosures of their earnings, money trails and property acquisitions
Ahsan Iqbal addresses a presser in Islamabad. — File
PML-N leaders on Tuesday questioned the merits of the judgement against former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, and claimed that the ongoing process of accountability in the country was discriminating against opposition leaders but favouring the government.
A day after Nawaz Sharif was handed seven years in jail in the Al-Azizia Steel Mills corruption reference, an assortment of PML-N leaders, at a press conference in Islamabad, took turns to criticise the verdict as well as the federal government.
"The first case in which Nawaz Sharif was disqualified, the crime ascertained was that he did not take salary from his son," said former federal minister Ahsan Iqbal. "And this time the allegation levelled is that 'since your son sent you money, therefore you stand disqualified'.
"Now I want to raise this question that in the Middle East up to 3.5 million Pakistanis remit money to their families, so would they be considered their business partners or co-owners? If any son sends money to his parents, will they be held guilty?
"Nawaz Sharif was ascertained the owner of that company simply on the basis that his son sent him money — a practice that is done by millions of Pakistanis.
"Similarly, the ongoing accountability process is basically a selected prime minister committing selected accountability. PML-N legislators are being arrested whereas the PTI and its allies, no matter how severe the allegations on them, they are free to do anything.
"PML-N leaders are arrested during inquiry but PTI leaders, who even have references filed against them, are free and the law is not in motion against them. Nawaz Sharif appeared 165 times in the court but PTI leaders' cases get delayed at their leisure. They are given dates as per their preference.
"No one can arrest PTI leaders. All the summons and arrests are for PML-N leaders because this government is on ventilator. Another form of convention or Q league is being imposed on Pakistan in the form of PTI."
Mohammad Zubair urged the prime minister to also hold his own party leaders accountable, especially those who "have admitted themselves that they had offshore companies".
"We demand from NAB and the courts that the sense of urgency they have shown against the PML-N, we want to see the same against the PTI leaders.
The former Governor Sindh questioned why the case of prime minister's sister Aleema Khanum was wrapped up with "just a fine".
"If it was solved with a penalty then it means that she had done something wrong," Zubair said. "Why isn't the same penalty solution offered to the PML-N? Our question is how did she sent money abroad from here. The PM should set an example here.
"Moreover, you have ordered audits of Lahore Metro, Multan Metro and Pindi/Islamabad Metro ... why not Peshawar Metro? Why is there such a distinction? These twin standards are not acceptable and we demand of NAB that if they want to establish their credibility, there should be an across-the-board accountability."
Zubair demanded that the PTI leaders make complete disclosures of their earnings, money trails and property acquisitions
