In an informal conversation with journalists on Saturday, former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said that though he has a lot to say about the circumstances surrounding his ouster, he wishes to remain silent for now.
He was disqualified by the Supreme Court on July 28 in its verdict on the Panama Papers case for failing to declare a receivable salary as an asset. Despite being disqualified by Supreme Court, Mr. Sharif continues to call the shots and enjoys unchallenged control over the incumbent ruling party.
It is expected that someone from his family might be the contender for primer ship next year. Who that person might be is yet to be determined.
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A high-level meeting of the PML-N was held in Murree earlier this week. The newly-elected prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbassi and other PML-N stalwarts to include CM Punjab Shehbaz Sharif, Ahsan Iqbal, Ch Nisar and others were also present. The meeting was chaired by none other than Nawaz Sharif himself.
Nawaz Sharif is set to address a large public gathering in Lahore tomorrow.
The political activities of Nawaz Sharif after his disqualification have been criticized by many including the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf. “How can Nawaz Sharif chair party meetings after he was disqualified even from his party office under the Supreme Court verdict?” asked PTI spokesman Naeemul Haq.
The Supreme Court cleared the air, but the story was well-circulated by big wigs in the PML-N.
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Contempt of court
While the PML-N says that it accepts the decision, it has through words and actions flouted the orders of the court. The daily tirade against the Supreme Court by MNAs of the PML-N is a case in point.
According to Article 204 of the Constitution, the court can punish any person who abuses, interferes with or obstructs the process of the Court in any way or disobeys any order of the Court; scandalizes the Court or otherwise does anything which tends to bring the Court or a Judge of the Court into hatred, ridicule or contempt.
The political activities of Nawaz Sharif after his disqualification have been criticized by many including the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf.
Apart from the conspicuous defiance of the court order, the PML-N leadership was seen as sharing a story which alleged Imran Khan of taking dictation from Justice Asif Khosa in instituting a reference against the ruling family. The Supreme Court cleared the air, but the story was well-circulated by big wigs in the PML-N.
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The PML-N leadership used Khan’s interview to give their conspiracy allegations more weight. Khan and later the Supreme Court clarified that it was a suggestion given to all petitioners by the court in November last year.
Despite being disqualified by Supreme Court, Mr. Sharif continues to call the shots and enjoys unchallenged control over the incumbent ruling party.
The political activities of the former prime minister may see the executive and the judiciary at loggerheads in the days to come. Nawaz’s future in PML-N will be contested as seemingly his further participation is repugnant to the Political Parties Order 2002.
Read more: The dusk of Nawaz Sharif era
Some observers have predicted that there is a little chance that Mr. Nawaz will contest next elections. However, it is expected that someone from his family might be the contender for primer ship next year. Who that person might be is yet to be determined.