One should not have hope after Panama case, says Maryam

LAHORE: Maryam Nawaz said on Monday one should not have hope [for justice] after the Panama case, which saw the Supreme Court disqualify her father Nawaz Sharif as the prime minister.

Speaking to newsmen during her visit to NA-120 constituency in Lahore, the former first daughter lamented that her father was disqualified first and the case is being run now. "However, Nawaz Sharif was the center of politics and still the entire politics of the country revolves him."

She said that it was better if the state institutions stayed within their constitutional limits.

Responding to a question regarding the army, Maryam said, "The institution gives the supreme sacrifice and protects our borders. We all own them. It will be good if every institution works within its constitutional limits".

Maryam said the cases against the Sharif family will continue until the Day of Judgment and even then nothing will become of them.

In response to another question, she said she hoped for the democratic government to complete its tenure.

'Hamza my younger brother'

Earlier, in a conversation with Geo News, Maryam said she has no differences with Hamza, her first cousin, and son of Nawaz's brother and Punjab CM, Shehbaz Sharif.  

Denying reports of any rifts in the Sharif family, she said, "Hamza is [like] my younger brother". 

She made the remarks while touring Lahore's NA-120 constituency, which was won by her mother last month after a hectic campaign from Maryam. 

"God forbid if we have any differences," she told Geo News on reports of rifts in the ruling family. Maryam claimed she has been hearing stories of disagreements within the Sharif family since 30 years but there is no truth in these reports.

"Those hoping for differences to erupt in the Sharif family will be disappointed," she said, adding, "We are all united under Nawaz Sharif’s leadership".

Rifts

There have been reports of rifts within the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz leadership as well as calls by some party officials of handing over the party's leadership to Shehbaz until Nawaz's corruption cases are settled. 

Earlier, Maryam visited a hospital and a school in Mazang area of Lahore and listened to people's complaints.  

The NA-120 constituency was left vacant after Nawaz was disqualified as prime minister by the Supreme Court in its July 28 judgment in the Panama Papers case. 

The seat was bagged by Nawaz's wife, Kulsoom, even though she was unable to campaign as she is undergoing treatment for lymphoma in London.