Sharif, cohorts destabilizing Pakistan, says Rasheed

RAWALPINDI: Awami Muslim League (AML) chief Sheikh Rasheed said on Monday that ousted prime minister Nawaz Sharif and his cohorts wanted to destabilize Pakistan.

Lashing out at Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal and other ministers for accompanying Sharif at the hearing before the NAB court, he sarcastically said it appeared that Sharif was not appearing before the court, but going to get a visa for performing Umrah that a large number of ministers accompany him.

Speaking to media, Rasheed said the Sharif children will not appear before the court. The impression was being created that democracy couldn’t survive without Sharif, he added.

Against the backdrop of the interior minister not allowed to enter NAB court today, he said authorities should chalk out a list of people who should be allowed to witness the NAB proceedings.

Slamming the PML-N leaders, he said those who were trained by military dictator Zia ul Haq were now frowning at the security establishment.

The ruling PML-N is going to push through the Election Bill 2017 to elect the disqualified prime minister as the PML-N head, Rasheed said and added the entire government was bent on protecting Sharif.

He said it was being implied that it all was happening against Sharif. To him, he said, the law was taking its course against thieves and plunderers of public money. He added they should strive to save democracy and Sharif should be given a fair trial.