Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has defended his niece PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz’s strong statements during her Fatah Jang rally on Friday. While speaking to journalists on Sunday, PM Shehbaz said Maryam Nawaz did not mean to attack anyone.
To clarify, during her Fatah Jang rally, Maryam Nawaz intensely lashed out at former Prime Minister Imran Khan. She also hurled accusations against Farah Gogi, a close friend, and confidante of Imran Khan’s wife Bushra.
Furthermore, Maryam Nawaz also said that former premier Imran Khan only lasted in office for over three years as he had the support of a former intelligence officer [Lt. Gen. Faiz Hameed].
The prime minister said that Maryam Nawaz would never resort to “character assassination” of anyone. Shehbaz Sharif said that Maryam Nawaz went away with the heat of the moment during her speech. However, she did not mean to attack anyone.
Read more: Maryam Nawaz slams PM Khan for serving show-cause notice to PTI MNAs
“I or Nawaz Sharif cannot think of anyone’s character assassination,” he said. He also said the PML-N’s way of politics did not support personal attacks against anyone.
شہباز شریف نےکہا ہےکہ مریم نواز کی تقریروں کو سنجیدہ نہیں لینا چاہئےلیکن نون لیگ کےجلسوں میں اعلیٰ فوجی قیادت اور رینک اورفائل میں باقاعدہ پلاننگ کےتحت تقسیم کی کوششش ہو رہی ہے،ایم کیو ایم کے انتہا پسند عناصراور بلوچستان میں غداروں کو نئ اہمیت بڑاپلان ہے اسے نظرانداز نہیں کر سکتے
— Ch Fawad Hussain (@fawadchaudhry) May 9, 2022
Shehbaz Sharif’s meeting with journalists
Sunday, Shehbaz Sharif spoke with two groups of journalists in Lahore. The first meeting was with a delegation of the Council of Pakistan Newspapers Editors (CPNE). The second one was an informal discussion with leading journalists. During the meeting, journalists questioned Shehbaz Sharif on wide-ranging issues.
Journalist Asad Ullah Khan released a video on his Youtube channel, revealing the inside story of the meeting. Interestingly, the journalist said PM Shehbaz Sharif answered most questions in full detail. However, he also gave short answers or refrained from saying much on sensitive issues, for instance, how by rejecting the PECA law, the government is allowing the media to freely criticize Pakistan’s institutions.
Moving on, while responding to a question on Hamza Shehbaz being the Punjab Chief Minister, Shehbaz Sharif said he was initially against the appointment. However, he said that when Nawaz Sharif was the Prime Minister, and him the Chief Minister, they performed well.
Read more: Hamza Shehbaz finally takes oath as Punjab Chief Minister
In response to a question about Imran Khan’s planned march on Islamabad, the prime minister said what would this laadla (spoiled brat) get by marching on Islamabad? He did nothing in his nearly four years of government, Shehbaz said.
The prime minister said the government would soon announce a commission to probe Imran Khan’s claims about a foreign conspiracy.