LAHORE: Awami Muslim League Chairman Sheikh Rasheed Ahmad claimed on Tuesday that his victory in the upcoming election was certain, while predicting that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif would not be sitting in the next assembly.

Addressing the members of the Lahore High Court Bar Association (LHCBA), he also alleged that the prime minister had been pursuing an agenda of “Pakistan Army’s destruction”.

About the probe being conducted by the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) into charges of money laundering against the ruling Sharif family, Sheikh said if chief executive of Pakistan could appear before the JIT, the Qatri prince should not cavil at appearance before the body. He added the JIT members should not go to the prince to record his statement.

Referring to Panama issue, he claimed that “international forces” had started to exert their influence on the most important case of the country. He said the so-called champions of democracy had themselves become a great threat to the future of democracy in the country.

He alleged that PML-N workers had been equipped with batons to create a scene outside Federal Judicial Academy on the day (July 5) of appearance of Maryam Nawaz before the JIT.

Reiterating his claim about ouster of Premier Nawaz Sharif, he said this year Qurbani (sacrifice) was certain before Eidul Azha (Baqra Eid). He criticised Finance Minister Ishaq Dar and Railways Minister Saad Rafiq for using ‘derogatory’ language in their recent speeches.

During his speech, lawyers chanted slogans against PM Sharif. Some lawyers’ belonging to PML-N also chanted slogans in favour of the prime minister.

Published in Dawn, July 5th, 2017