Afraid of neither arrest nor fake cases or NAB, says Maryam Nawaz

PML-N Vice-President Maryam Nawaz Sharif has said that Imran Khan is neither a constitutional nor an elected prime minister, taking the premier to task on his worst manner of governance saying that institutions are being run on the ‘revelations’ of oracles. She also said that she was neither afraid of arrest nor fake cases or NAB, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

Talking to newsmen after appearing in Islamabad High Court on Wednesday, Maryam lamented that all state institutions had come to a halt and PM Khan was running the affairs of the state on ‘magic’ and resorted to ‘parrot lots’. She stated the country had become a butt of joke in the comity of nations, thanks to the odd ways the PM was adopting to run it. 

She alleged that the premier made appointments on important public offices by consulting the ‘magical forces’. 

Maryam questioned why the magical forces were used to make appointments and why they were not consulted to eliminate inflation, poverty and corruption from the country. She wondered what was the political stature of premier Imran! 

While criticizing the prime minister, the PML-N vice-president alleged that he put the whole country on a standstill only to prolong his regime. 

“It’s not a matter of democratic principle, it’s a matter of sticking to power. Now you have put the country on hold. Don’t try to become Nawaz Sharif. Now you have remembered that vote should be honoured. You have stolen the mandate of Nawaz Sharif and have become prime minister,” she slammed PM Khan.

Maryam lashed out at National Accountability Bureau for approaching the court for cancellation of her bail saying it seems the ‘kids’ are afraid of her but she said she is not afraid of going to jail.

She claimed that they were scared that her petition against ISI DG Lt Gen Faiz Hameed would reveal their conspiracy. She maintained that she was not afraid of her arrest or fake cases or NAB declaring that one could hide the truth with the power of force for some time, but eventually the truth comes out.

She said there were no two opinions about the mandate and jurisdiction which the constitution and the law assign to the office of prime minister. 

Maryam held an informal talk with media persons in the courtroom of Islamabad High Court on Wednesday where she came to attend her hearing in the Avenfield case. But the police deputed there stopped her from talking to the media. She said she wanted to know who her sympathizer in the NAB was. 

IHC asks NAB to present ownership documents of properties in Avenfield reference 

 Earlier, while hearing petitions against the convictions of Maryam Nawaz and Capt ® Muhammad Safdar Awan in Avenfield reference, the IHC asked NAB to present the ownership documents of the properties. The court admonished the bureau for showing the documents of four flats. But the presented documents were not showing who the owners of these flats were.

A two-member bench of the IHC consisting of Justice Amir Farooq and Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kiyani was hearing the petitions. 

Even before the conclusion of the court hearing, the PML-N leaders started leaving the court room. Showing his resentment over their action, Justice Farooq asked the PML-N leaders don’t do this.

The court adjourned the hearing of the case till Nov 17.

During arguments, Maryam’s counsel Irfan Qadir said that he saw in the newspapers today that the NAB had submitted a petition in the court seeking cancellation of his client’s’ bail. 

It shows mala fide intention of the bureau, the counsel held adding that it used to be NAB’s policy that it would not arrest a person without any reason.

Now the NAB arrests every person, remarked Justice Farooq. However, he asked the PML-N leaders’ counsel ‘don’t talk on it because the petition has not come for debate before the court yet.’

Mr Qadir prayed to the court that it should admit his client’s petition on the basis of merit. He said his client wanted to bring the truth in front of public. He remarked that his client talked about political engineering. He said such things happened which created doubts. 

The advocate argued that the court did not have the jurisdiction to hear this case. In this case, there was no evidence. The whole court proceeding of this case is unlawful, Mr Qadir added. 

Justice Farooq said that both appeal and petition were seeking exoneration. He said the decision on both would be held together. 

Reporters Saud Butt, Ehtisham Kiyani