PESHAWAR: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz has described the meeting of PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari with former prime minister Nawaz Sharif in Kot Lakhpat Jail as good omen for democracy in the country.

PML-N provincial president Amir Muqam said in a statement here on Monday that the former prime minister would be released soon without any NRO or plea bargain.

He said that meeting of the two leaders was widely appreciated by democracy-loving people as it would have positive impact on future of the country.

Mr Muqam said that all the politicians irrespective of their political thoughts should accommodate each other to develop a sense of tolerance and avoid using derogatory language against each other as the entire nation, especially the new generation, was following them.

Referring to the media talks of Bilawal Bhutto outside the Kot Lakhpat Prison about health condition of Nawaz Sharif, Mr Muqam said that the former premier was fighting for the rights of the nation otherwise he had many options to avert the imprisonment.

He claimed that government tried to achieve its objectives by imprisoning Nawaz Sharif but it would be unable to keep him any longer in the jail in fabricated cases. “Our leader will soon come out from the prison honourably and lead the nation,” he added.

Meanwhile, PML-N provincial spokesman Ikhtiar Wali Khan also welcomed the meeting of PPP chairman with Nawaz Sharif. He said that Mr Bilawal had confirmed the reports about serious illness of Nawaz Sharif so the rulers should also open their eyes otherwise the entire responsibility would rest with Prime Minister Imran Khan in case of any problem to the former premier.

He said that government should stop victimisation of its rivals and accept PML-N as a nationwide political force otherwise the party workers would start agitation in the country and the rulers would be unable to control them.

Published in Dawn, March 12th, 2019