LAHORE: Supremo of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and former prime minister Nawaz Sharif has said that individuals, who were involved in toppling PML-N governments have now been exposed and we are witnessing testimonies coming forth from those quarters from where we never thought of.
Nawaz expressed regret that he had never inherited favorable circumstances from those who came before him, consistently finding himself entangled in legal matters after the conclusion of his administrations.
However, he said that he was thankful that the courts cleared his name this time.
Nawaz emphasized that this triumph isn’t solely his own but a collective victory for everyone who steadfastly supported him and his party during these challenging periods.
In a televised message to the nation, Nawaz conveyed his anticipation that the people would declare their judgments on February 8, 2024, thereby putting an end to the perceived injustices that have been imposed.
He expressed hope that the PML-N will come to power in the upcoming elections scheduled for February 8, 2024.
میرے سب مقدمے جھوٹے نکلے , فراڈ نکلے اور عدالت نے مجھے ہر الزام سے بری کردیا , لیکن مجھے سچی خوشی اس وقت ہوگی جب آپ بھی بری ہونگے , میری ماؤں , بہنوں , بیٹیوں , بزرگوں اور جوانوں کی سزائیں ختم ہونگی۔جب آپکو مہنگائی کے عذاب سے نجات ملے گی , جب آپکو بجلی اور گیس کے بھاری بلوں سے… pic.twitter.com/cdR2mFqQf1
— PMLN (@pmln_org) December 14, 2023
Since his return to Pakistan in October after a four-year self-exile in London, Nawaz has consistently called for accountability against those responsible for his government’s removal in 2017.
He contends that their actions not only targeted him and his family but also had detrimental effects on Pakistan.
This address marked Nawaz’s first communication with his supporters after being exonerated from major corruption cases, fueling his aspirations for a fourth term as prime minister.
The Islamabad High Court’s recent rulings, overturning his convictions in the Al Azizia Steel Mills corruption case and Avenfield case, have significantly boosted his political standing.
The most recent relief, delivered by the high court on Tuesday, has eliminated a crucial obstacle for Nawaz to qualify for participation in the national elections. However, for him to be eligible to run in the elections, the remaining requirement is the removal of a life ban on holding any public office, a step he needs to take before the polls on February 8, 2024.
The three-time prime minister reminded his workers that the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) had started a witch hunt against him on the directions of a former Supreme Court judge.
“I was called Sicilian Mafia, God Father, and a lot of other derogatory words [by judges]. But I left all my troubles up to Allah,” he smiled.
The PML-N elder lamented that he had to stay in jail for a “long time”, endure “abuse”, and also face “character assassination”.
“I could not carry my father’s coffin. I could bury my mother. I could not spend the last moments with my dying wife,” Nawaz lamented, but vowed that he would not back down from the tough conditions ahead.
