News Analysis
Nawaz Sharif is not happy over what the courts are doing in Pakistan. The ousted Prime Minister fears that the upcoming general elections will be massively rigged. He was speaking to the media outside the Harley Street Clinic in London. Nawaz Sharif is in London these days to see his ailing wife Kalsoom Nawaz.
Nawaz believes that “a new history of poll rigging was being created,” and if it is not stopped immediately, it will have pernicious effects on democracy in Pakistan, says Nawaz. The ousted PM also lamented that “in similar case different verdicts were announced for them and other.” He was referring to the disqualification of the PML-N leaders who have been disqualified from the courts for not being honest and truthful.
“Have a look at record of past several months, only me and my affiliates have been the target,” Nawaz told reporters. Nawaz Sharif is also certain that “what would happen on July 25 is written on the wall.” He meant his political rival Imran Khan will manage to win because of the assistance he was receiving from courts and agencies in Pakistan.
To justify electoral defeat in advance, Nawaz Sharif is creating a narrative that he and his party were deliberately sidelined for being the ‘defenders of democracy and civilian supremacy’ in Pakistan.
PML-N leaders are naive to consider the impact of corruption charges against Nawaz Sharif on their public image and popular support. It is interesting to note that international media now also points out that Sharifs own a lot more places in London and other cities. This has seriously damaged the image of the party and Sharifs in Pakistan. But for the sake of political face saving, Nawaz and his political aides are smartly using the name of agencies and the courts to justify their expected defeat in the upcoming general elections.
Furthermore, he said that he had directed his party to stand by Qamarul Islam’s daughter and son, noting that Islam’s children submitted his nomination forms from NA-59 Rawalpindi. Previously, while talking about the arrest of Raja Qamar-ul-Islam, PMLN’s candidate against Chaudhary Nisar, by the National Accountability Bureau, he stated that “his arrest was unfortunate and such actions create concerns.”
Read more: PML-N’s U-turns in Jhelum for the second time, ignored by…
“Islam got clean chit a few days ago from the NAB but then he was arrested,” he added. He further argued that these ‘mysterious’ actions create doubts and lead towards political chaos. “These things create concerns. Not only that such actions should be avoided but should never happen,” former prime minister said.
Engineer Qamarul Islam, who has served as the chairman of the Saaf Pani Company, has been arrested by the NAB. He is accused of having awarded contracts for 84 water treatment plants at a higher price. According to the NAB, Islam misused his position and awarded contracts at a higher rate.
Nawaz Sharif is also certain that “what would happen on July 25 is written on the wall.” He meant his political rival Imran Khan will manage to win because of the assistance he was receiving from courts and agencies in Pakistan.
Nawaz Sharif also lamented over the lifetime disqualification of the ex. PM Shahid Khaqan Abbasi. Two days ago, the appellate election tribunal has disqualified the Pakistan Muslim league-Nawaz leader and ex. Prime Minster Shahid Khaqan Abbasi for “concealing facts and withholding information from voters” in his nomination forms submitted for NA-57 Murree — his home constituency.
The Justice Ibad-Ur-Rehman Lodhi of the Lahore High Court (LHC) declared him (Abbasi) not to be ‘Sadiq’ and ‘Ameen’ [truthful and trustworthy], the tribunal said Abbasi was “not a qualified person to be elected or chosen as a member of Majlis-e-Shoora (parliament) within the meaning of Article 62(1)(f) of the Constitution of Pakistan.”
Read more: NA: 120 – PMLN’s Strategic Defeat & Implications
According to the verdict, Abbasi has been found “guilty of concealment of facts and withholding of the complete information from his voters”. Nawaz Sharif now addresses media frequently in London and is trying to create a perception as if Pakistan is going to have a rigged elections on the July 25th, 2018.
The position of Nawaz’s party is not so well and a massive defeat is being predicted by the analysts. To justify electoral defeat in advance, Nawaz Sharif is creating a narrative that he and his party were deliberately sidelined for being the ‘defenders of democracy and civilian supremacy’ in Pakistan. This is unfortunate because it will ultimately weaken the institutions in Pakistan as people may lose their trusts in them.