PML-N Vice-president Maryam Nawaz has admitted that the current short-term coalition government could not make big decisions, so elections are the solution to the crisis.
During a press conference outside the Islamabad High Court today, she said Nawaz Sharif got Pakistan in bad shape in 2013, but eventually, things improved in two to three years. That government made big decisions, but unfortunately, this interim setup cannot do it.
Read more: Why Pakistan must have immediate general elections?
Blaming Imran Khan and Fawad Chaudhry
The PML-N leader said she wants people not to get lured and vote for Nawaz Sharif whenever elections are held. Furthermore, she noted Professor Israr and Hakeem Saeed said in the 1990s that Imran Khan was being prepared to “ruin Pakistan.”
“The conspiracy that he hatched against Pakistan, even if all countries united, they couldn’t have done it,” she claimed, saying that Khan was to be blamed for this inflation and destruction. She said the PTI chairman used “conspiracy lies” to hide from the failures of his government.
She alleged that it was Farah Khan who was running the Punjab government, not Usman Buzdar. She also accused former information minister Fawad Chaudhry appointed his family members to government posts.
Immediately after Maryam’s comments, Fawad Chaudhry took to Twitter demanding the PML-N leader reveals within 24 hours the names of the people he purportedly gave jobs to. “If you fail to do so, I will send you a legal notice,” the PTI leader added.
مریم نواز مجھے 24 گھنٹوں میں ان رشتہ داروں کا نام بتا دیں جن کو میں نے نوکریاں دیں ایسا نہ کرنے کے صورت میں میں ان کو لیگل نوٹس بجھوا رہا ہوں pic.twitter.com/pKDJWxcyj3
— Ch Fawad Hussain (@fawadchaudhry) May 12, 2022
Army Chief should have a ‘flawless reputation’
Sharif said that the army chief should be a person who had a “flawless reputation,” free from any criticism or doubts. She added the army was a respected institution for the country and its people. “The nation looks at the army for the unity and security of Pakistan. So the army chief must be a person who is worthy and stainless so that people salute the Pakistan Army.”
Read more: Why did PM Imran choose DG ISI Gen Faiz to head intelligence body?
The PML-N leader has been critical of Lt Gen Faiz Hameed, who served as the ISI chief from June 16, 2019, to Oct 19, 2021, and is currently posted as the Peshawar corps commander.
Addressing a rally last week in Fateh Jang, Maryam had criticised Gen Hameed while referring to Imran Khan’s recent podcast appearance where he had said the intelligence chief was the “eyes and ears” of the government.
The PML-N leader had said: “We know that he wasn’t your eyes and ears, rather he was your hands through which you throttled your political opponents.”
Calls out NAB for ‘dragging cases’
Maryam also slammed NAB for dragging out the cases against her. She said, “When NAB was in their PTI’s control, they thought they could manipulate us. There were appeals for hearings on a daily basis and quick decisions. But ever since Imran’s ouster, NAB has been clueless. They make excuses at every hearing because they don’t have evidence.
Read more: Can NAB prove case against Maryam Nawaz and her husband?
She requested that the IHC bench and Chief Justice Athar Minallah stop the “violation of my rights.” “My honour is at stake when I come to court. I want to request the court to take notice of NAB’s unfairness as justice delayed is justice denied.”
She demanded that anyone involved in “political engineering” be brought to justice, be NAB or a fake case.