If Javed Hashmi had any objection to the exile deal then why did he accept the position of PML-N’s acting president: Ahsan Iqbal.—File photo

ISLAMABAD: Two PML-N leaders have come out with divergent responses to party MNA Javed Hashmi’s statement in the National Assembly on Thursday that Nawaz Sharif and his brother Shahbaz Sharif should apologise for accepting a Saudi exile for a pardoned conviction.

PML-N spokesman Ahsan Iqbal said that there was no need for the party chief Nawaz Sharif and Shahbaz Sharif to tender any apology after signing the Charter of Democracy.

On the other hand another, Siddiqul Farooq questioned the timing of Mr Hashmi’s statement, saying why did he keep silent over the issue for a decade.

“In party meetings Mr Hashmi never spoke on the issue and rather defended the Sharif brothers’ decision to go into exile,” Mr Farooq told Dawn on Friday.

He said if Mr Hashmi had any objection to the exile deal then why did he accept the position of PML-N’s acting president. Mr Iqbal told Dawn on Thursday that Mr Hashmi’s speech was based on his “personal views” and in no way it could be termed a policy statement.

He said the party position on the issue was very clear that the Sharifs were “forced” to go into exile by military dictator Pervez Musharraf and that was also evident from the fact that the Sharifs tried to return to the country but they were not allowed.

Nevertheless, he said, the leadership of the PML-N and the PPP had at the time of signing the historic Charter of Democracy in May 2006 in London, already apologised to the nation for their past controversial actions of supporting military regimes.

This was written in the CoD and, therefore, there was no need for anyone to seek an apology.

Mr Iqbal said the party “respected” Mr Hashmi’s views who was now a veteran politician and above party partisanship.

“Mr Hashmi is an icon. He has sacrificed a lot for the cause of democracy and after his heroic struggle he has become a voice for democracy. When he speaks, he speaks much larger than the party position,” he said.

He said that Mr Hashmi’s speech was a proof that, the PML-N acknowledged the right of every member to speak independently in parliament.