Have a lot to say, but will stay silent for now: Nawaz Sharif

ISLAMABAD: Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif said on Saturday how could he have filed tax returns on the salary he never received from his son’s company. 

He was referring to the Supreme Court's grounds for his disqualification in the Panama Papers case.

During his informal chat with journalists and members of the media after reaching Punjab House from Murree, Nawaz said he has a lot to say on the subject, however, he prefers to stay silent for now. He added that he is starting to understand a lot [about what is going on].

“Whatever happened with me is in front of you all. Had there been any evidence of corruption, kickbacks or misuse of public funds there would have been logic [in the disqualification],” he said.

“I have not done anything which obstructed the country’s progress,” he said, adding, “I have acted upon the [Supreme Court] verdict but didn’t comment on it. I believe in the rule of law.”

He said the country will remain stable if it remains on the path of democracy — otherwise there will be chaos.

“I want to take the country’s politics in the right direction. I haven’t used crass words against my political opponents. I am not politically isolated,” said Sharif during his informal discussion.

Musharraf in crosshairs 

Taking a jibe at former president General (retd) Pervez Musharraf, Nawaz said a dictator of the past said dictatorship is better than democracy. “I don’t know which world he is living in,” he said, adding that, “he has no courage to come here and speak in public”.

Nawaz claimed Musharraf wanted to meet him in 2007 when he [Nawaz] was returning to the country.

“Musharraf wanted to do an NRO [reconciliation] with me. He expressed his desire to meet me. I was told that it was in my favour, but I rejected the offer as I have become an ideological man," he explained.

“Is there any court in the country that can convict a person who twice violated the Constitution,” he questioned.

The Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) chief said Baloch leader Akbar Bugti was ruthlessly killed [in the Musharraf regime], leading to instability in Balochistan. “Did anyone question those who are responsible for it, did anyone hold them accountable,” he said.

The PML-N chief, along with family members and aides, departed his residence in Changla Gali earlier and was greeted by scores of supporters in Bharakahu on his way to Punjab House. 

The former premier's convoy was surrounded by PML-N supporters, prompting Nawaz to get out of his car at one point and greet the crowd. 

Senior PML-N leaders and other politicians, including the prime minister and several cabinet members, are at the Punjab House for a consultative meeting chaired by Nawaz. 

Sources said the PML-N supremo will be staying the night in Punjab House and proceed to Lahore Sunday morning via the motorway.

Nawaz said that he wanted to go to Lahore from the GT road, however, his security staff did not approve. “If not today, in the coming days I will travel to Lahore via GT road,” sources quoted him saying.

Last Sunday, the former premier vacated the Prime Minister House and proceeded to Murree along with family members.

Since then, the country has seen a new prime minister — PML-N’s Shahid Khaqan Abbasi — assume office.

Sharif has spent most of his time in Murree in hectic consultations over the formation of the new cabinet. The former premier chaired back-to-back meetings on Wednesday and Thursday, which finally led to the swearing-in of the new cabinet on Friday.

The Supreme Court, in its judgment in the Panama Papers case, disqualified Sharif under Article 62 (1) (f) of the Constitution over his failure to disclose un-withdrawn receivables constituting assets from a UAE-based company.

The verdict stated that he was not ‘honest’ and ‘truthful’, as per the country’s Constitution.

The PML-N has decided to file a review petition against the verdict. However, the party’s troubles are not over as it gears up for the by-election in Sharif’s Lahore constituency — NA-120 — on September 17.

According to some reports, Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif is expected to contest the by-poll and assume office of prime minister. However, there is a chance Abbasi could continue as the prime minister till the next general elections and the party gives the NA-120 ticket to someone else.

Moreover, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) is set to file several corruption references against Nawaz, his children Maryam, Hussain and Hasan, son-in-law MNA Capt (retd) Safdar and Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, among others, in an accountability court.

According to the Supreme Court’s July 28 verdict, NAB is supposed to file the references within six weeks of the court’s judgment, while the accountability court hearing the case has to wrap up proceedings in six months.

It is in this context that the PML-N is attempting to reach out to the ‘masses’ and maintain its support base.