Nawaz Sharif thinks of pursuing treason case against Musharraf caused all troubles

PML-N founder and former prime minister Nawaz Sharif on Wednesday, during his third accountability court hearing in as many days, claimed that the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) references against him were constituted as punishment for pursuing a high treason case against former military dictator Pervez Musharraf.

"The references were made as I refused to bow as a government servant, I did not succumb to any of the pressures to withdraw from high treason case against former dictator Pervez Musharraf instead I took a clear stance and these were the reasons that I was ousted from power and politics as well", he added.

Nawaz claimed that the head of an intelligence agency had told him to "resign or go on a long leave", adding that such threats by a subordinate to the head of the state are not issued even in third world countries.

Nawaz said demonstrations spearheaded by opposition figures Imran Khan and Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri in 2014 were engineered after the case against Musharraf was filed. 

"It was no more a secret that how the 2014 sit-in project was orchestrated, who supported the protesters for four months and who made them demand the resignation of Nawaz Sharif."

"Before the filing of the treason case I had met Imran Khan and he never demanded my resignation. But surprisingly after Musharraf was booked, he met Tahirul Qadri in London where they decided to stage a sit-in against my government."

The PML-N leader praised the armed forces' sacrifices and pointed out that he had upped the defense budget and also refused $5 billion to not conduct the nuclear test in the 90s.

However, he said, it is also a "prerequisite for the sanctity of the armed forces that if any person suspends the Constitution then he should be held accountable".

"Only a few people in the armed forces staged a coup but the entire institution has to pay the cost," he added.

The former premier continued that former president Asif Ali Zardari conveyed a message to validate Musharraf’s second martial law imposed in November 2007, however, hastened to add that he refused to endorse the martial law.

“I have said this before and will say it again, decisions should be taken by the people.”

The founder of the PML-N then questioned the NAB court as to why judiciaries of the past did not do anything against dictatorial regimes.

"Why was Liaquat Ali Khan martyred, why was Zulfikar Bhutto hanged, and why was Benazir Bhutto also martyred? I wish there was a court that could dare to ask generals why they abrogated the Constitution and why the judges legitimized their dictatorial regimes."

Nawaz and his family members are facing three references pertaining to the Avenfield properties, the Al-Azizia Steel mills, and Flagship Investment Co filed by the NAB under the directives of the Supreme Court in its July 28, 2017, Panama Papers judgment.

Nawaz Sharif recorded his statement on the third day replying all of 128 questions asked by the NAB court.