Supreme Court’s decision won’t delay Nawaz Sharif’s homecoming.
Attaullah Tarar, Deputy Secretary General of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), has stated that party supremo Nawaz Sharif’s planned return to Pakistan on October 21 will not be hampered by the Supreme Court’s (SC) ruling on National Accountability Bureau (NAB) rules modifications.
In a 2-1 decision, a three-member panel of the Supreme Court granted Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan’s suit contesting changes made to the country’s accountability legislation during the previous PDM-led government’s mandate.
Following a meeting with Nawaz and former Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in London, Tarar stated that Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial had once again demonstrated his pro-PTI and pro-Imran Khan bias by attempting to favour the PTI chief, but the verdict will have little impact on the PML-N leadership.
As Supreme Court’s decision won’t delay Nawaz Sharif’s homecoming, Tarar stated that there was strong proof that Nawaz was innocent and that “no case stands in the way of his return to Pakistan.”
Also read: Nawaz Sharif confirms homecoming in October this year
“Nawaz’s return date remains unchanged. The date has already been set. He’ll be back on the same day.”
He said that Nawaz had not broken any rules regarding Toshakhana presents because he did not sell anything and made no profit, as Khan did by selling all state gifts and profiting handsomely.
Tarar stated that Bandial’s decision was “short and sweet,” as the CJP had promised, but for his mother-in-law, referring to the leaked audio of the top judge’s relative expressing support for Khan and telling another female colleague she would take up the matter with him to assist the deposed PM.
The Supreme Court reinstated graft proceedings against public officials that had been closed following the changes.
“This is a welcome decision because all cases related to our leadership have been decided on merit and the judges have clearly said the cases against PML-N leaders had no merit and were made for politically motivated reasons.
“A wrong impression has been created as if a lot of cases of alleged corruption have been either shut down or disposed of through these amendments. This is not true. Shehbaz Sharif is cleared on merit in Ashiana and assets cases. The only thing Bandial and Justice Ijazul Ahsan have done is to favour Imran Khan through optics and grandstanding but this is of not much significance.”
Tarar wonders why the Bandial-led bench, absent Justice Mansoor Ali Shah, rejected these revisions.
He stated that Bandial had not changed or stricken down any clauses that might have a negative impact on Khan’s cases.
“He has given NRO to Khan. All cases of Shehbaz are already closed on merit and cannot be reopened. There is only one case of Ramzan Sugar Mills case and there is clear evidence that Sharif did nothing wrong.”
Tarar said that everyone should celebrate September 16 as the “Day of Good Riddance” as this is the day Bandial retires after bringing disgrace and bias to his office.
He said that the judges were responsible for the current mess in Pakistan.
“A commission of sitting judges was made on the audio commission involving Bandial’s mother-in-law. Bandial didn’t let the commission work and then became a judge and jury to get himself and his mother-in-law,” Tarar said.
He said if “Project Imran Khan had not been launched and if Nawaz had not been disqualified then Pakistan would be in a much better situation today but the judiciary played its role in bringing Pakistan to where it is today.”
He said those who launched “project Imran Khan” had done injustice to Pakistan.
Tarar said Justice Shah had written an excellent dissenting note and asserted the supreme role of the parliament over the judiciary.
“The honourable judge has said that it was unfortunate the SC has assumed the role of parliament.”
According to the politician, former CJP Saqib Nisar was not a hypocrite because he openly backed the PTI and did not hide his partiality while working for the PTI, whereas Bandial tried to hide behind the robes of law.
