FAISALABAD: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Maryam Nawaz Thursday said no allegation of corruption would be proved against former prime minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif during the additional two months of trial being conducted by the accountability court.
The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) and other institutions had failed to prove any corruption charges against Nawaz Sharif during the last two years, including six months after his disqualification as prime minister, she said addressing a PML-N social media workers convention here at the historic Iqbal Park. Maryam said she appeared before a NAB court on Thursday, which was her third appearance along with Nawaz Sharif during the week.
She said the Supreme Court had given six months to NAB to prove allegations against Nawaz Sharif, and that deadline expired on March 7. The Bureau had failed to prove any charges so far and the additional two-month trial would also prove to be a futile exercise, she added.
She said when the defence lawyers asked from Wajid Zia's cousin how much money was paid to him for carrying out investigation against Nawaz Sharif, he refused to divulge the amount saying that it was his personal matter. How the issue could be termed a personal one as he was paid from the national kitty, she questioned.
She claimed that Wajid Zia's cousin was awarded the contract for 50,000 pounds, but he failed to prove anything against Nawaz Sharif. Maryam said Nawaz Sharif was being tried for the fifth time, but corruption of even a single penny was not proved against him.
He was probably the only person in the world who had been convicted without any proof of corruption, she added. She said the Balochistan government was toppled so that the PML-N could not gain majority in the Senate.
But despite all conspiracies, the party had emerged as the majority party in the Upper House of the Parliament, she added. She paid tribute to members of national and provincial assemblies, and senators belonging to the PML-N for standing with Nawaz Sharif through thick and thin.
She said the PML-N candidate had fought the by-election in Sargodha with the symbol of ‘pick-up’, but he won the seat with a big margin of 20,000 votes. Despite the symbol of 'loin' not allotted to the PML-N candidate, he was voted by the people as they knew that he was supported by Nawaz Sharif, she added. The people would similarly vote for the PML-N in the general elections 2018 to revive the sanctity of vote, she said.
Maryam said Nawaz after his disqualification as prime minister had emerged stronger as evident from the fact that the PML-N was united. None of the party members had cheated the leadership, she added.
The opponents had made all-out efforts to knock the PML-N down but they failed, she said. She said on March 13 the Senate election would be completed with the election of chairman. She said suo motu notice should have been taken over the 'sale and purchase' of assembly members for Senate election.
Without Imran Khan, she said his five-year performance would be discussed in the next elections and he would stand exposed before voters. She asked as to whether setting up an offshore company was a crime or refusing to get salary from a son was a sin.
She said Pervez Musharraf in an interview had claimed that Nawaz Sharif was the main hurdle in his return to Pakistan. It showed the democratic attitude of Nawaz Sharif, who stood firmly against a dictator, she added.
Maryam said the violators of Constitution were afraid of Nawaz Sharif as he had been opposing undemocratic actions. She urged the people to support Nawaz Sharif in his movement for restoration of justice and sanctity of vote. Referring to the warm welcome accorded to her on arrival at the venue of convention by an over-enthusiastic crowd, she said the people of Faisalabad had given their verdict by supporting Nawaz Sharif and the PML-N.
The party had deep roots among the people, she added. Minister of State for Finance Rana Muhammad Afzal Khan, Minister of State for Commerce and Textile Haji Muhammad Akram, Minister of State for Power Abid Sher Ali, Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry, MNAs and MPAs were also present in the convention. Earlier, she visited the residence of ailing MNA Rajab Ali Baloch and inquired after him.
