ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Teh­reek-i-Insaf on Tuesday accused the “Maryam Nawaz group” within the PML-N of trying to sabotage the government-PTI talks, saying that Bushra Bibi would file a criminal case against Ms Nawaz over corruption allegations.

The party also vowed to use “street power for protection” of the Supreme Court and the Constitution.

The allegations were made by PTI Senior Vice President Fawad Chaudhry at a press conference held hours before the resumption of talks in Islamabad.

Mr Chaudhry said his party would file a reference against Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikander Sultan Raja in the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) for acting like a “crony” of the ruling alliance and for being “the biggest obstacle” in the execution of the Supreme Court’s directive to hold elections in the country.

He requested the chief justice of Pakistan to remove the CEC from his position as he had “become a spokesperson for a political party”.

Mr Chaudhry said an unbiased and impartial election commissioner should be appointed to ensure free, fair and transparent elections as the present CEC’s conduct was “unbecoming of his stature”.

“On the one hand, they [Election Commission] say there is no money for elections, but on the other, they have purchased four kanals of land in Sargodha for Rs 320 million to house the ECP’s office in Sargodha,” he added.

The PTI leader further accused the CEC of appointing his “favourites” on important positions and without advertising the posts.

Senator Ejaz Chaudhary of the PTI had filed a reference against the CEC, but no action was taken, according to Mr Chaudhry.

The PTI has decided to send a fresh reference against Sikander Raja as he has become “a part of the conspiracy to rob people of their right to vote”.

Protecting the Constitution

Mr Chaudhry said the apex court should not only give decisions but it should also ensure their implementation. “The entire nation, bar associations and top jurists are with the SC and the chief justice. The judges should give decisions without fear,” the PTI leader said.

“If people can’t protect their constitution, we have no right to be called a nation. We are no different from Sudan and Afghanistan.”

Lashing out at Maryam Nawaz, Mr Chaudhry said she had been railing against the chief justice, Justice Maza­hir Naqvi and Justice Ijazul Ahsan because she wanted the bench to break up to “save the Sharif and Zardari families”.

Mr Chaudhry said Maryam Nawaz was feeling uneasy because her corruption cases would be restored automatically if NAB laws were reversed.

The PTI senior vice president revealed that Bushra Bibi had decided to lodge a criminal case against Ms Sharif for defamation as she had accused Bushra of taking bribes for getting documents signed by authorities when the party was in power. .

“She (Bushra Bibi) never participated in any political activity. She used to visit panahgahs (shelters) only. Although the former first lady is an apolitical person. Maryam continues to hurl allegations against her,” Fawad Chaudhry said.

He went on to claim that the PTI-led coalition was the only government in the country’s history which was untainted by corruption.

Expenditures

Speaking about expenditures incurred on former prime ministers’ and presidents’ security, camp offices and foreign tours, he alleged Shehbaz Sharif had outdone all by spending a whopping Rs 8.72 billion on foreign tours while Imran Khan spent the “least amount” as premier — Rs 170 million.

“Nawaz Sharif’s expenditures were over Rs 4.31bn, Asif Ali Zardari’s over Rs 3.16bn, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi (Rs 350m), Yousaf Raza Gilani (Rs 240m), Pervaiz Ashraf (Rs 30m) and Mamnoon Hussain (Rs 300m).”

Mr Chaudhry said the government had refused to disclose expenditures incurred on Foreign Mini­ster Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari’s foreign tours.

Mr Chaudhry hailed the report by the US Commission for Religious Freedom for “observing that PM Shehbaz Sharif weaponised blasphemy laws” to punish Imran Khan and members of his cabinet.

“This indictment of the present government shows the world is now waking up to HR violations in Pakistan.

A group of 100 congressmen will jointly ask the US State Department to take note of custodial torture and other HR violations in Pakistan.“

Published in Dawn, May 3rd, 2023