Nawaz says he believes in strong democratic state, rule of law, supremacy of constitution

ISLAMABAD: Former prime minister and President Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Muhammad Nawaz Sharif Tuesday said he firmly believed in a vibrant and strong democratic state, rule of law and supremacy of the Constitution.

Addressing the lawyers community here at Punjab House he said, “I strongly believe in democratic state, rule of law and supremacy of law. I invite all of you to join hands with me to make Pakistan a true democratic country.”

Today, he said, Pakistan was passing through a defining moment and “We have to decide the fate and direction of the country. I am standing for principles and justice, join hands with me to fight for the rights.”

Nawaz Sharif said he had fought for the independence of judiciary along with the lawyers’ community, and would continue fighting for provision of inexpensive justice to the common man.

He suggested that the state should pay the lawyers fee of the poor people, adding “State should arrange fee for the people who are poor and fighting for justice in the court of law.”

The former prime minister said he believed in across the board accountability. “I am appearing before the courts despite not doing even a single penny corruption."

He regretted that US President Donald Trump issued humiliating statement about Pakistan. “We have to analyze and find out that why he had issued such a statement against a sovereign Pakistan,” he said and questioned that why the US President did not take the same stance against other countries.

In the same breath, he said there was the need to look into the reasons behind the Fall of Dhaka. Had we learnt from the history, Pakistan would have been much better now, he said.

“Today, Pakistan is totally a different country than 1947, 1958, 1970 and 1999, as now people are much aware about their rights,” he said.

Talking about his disqualification, Nawaz Sharif said he was disqualified merely on holding an Iqama, but Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI) Chief Imran Khan was cleared of allegations of money laundering despite his confession of wrongdoings.

“Despite all investigations, no proof of money laundering was found against me and I was disqualified for holding an Iqama. But, Imran Khan despite his accepting as owner of the Niazi company was cleared of the charges,” he said.

He regretted that first he was convicted and now attempts were being made to find evidences against him. “I should be informed what kind of allegations are against me, not a single penny corruption and any misuse of power has been proved against me. If, even a Rs 5 corruption was proved against me, I would have left the politics and gone home,” he added.

Nawaz Sharif said accountability of his family had been started from 1962, when he was a student of class VII, while the PTI Chief had been declared ‘Sadiq and Ameen’ despite confession of committing wrongdoings publicly.

He also paid tribute to the people for standing with him for the cause of justice, saying “I salute the mothers, daughters, sons, children and youngsters for standing with me to fight for the rights.”

He recalled that he was handcuffed and awarded several years imprisonment in fake cases, adding the attitude meted out to the elected prime ministers from 1947 till-date was regrettable.