‘Another black day for Pakistan’ – PML-N leaders react to Nawaz’s sentence

ISLAMABAD: Former prime minister and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz leader Shahid Khaqan Abbasi termed the verdict in the remaining corruption references against Nawaz Sharif “another black decision” and said there was neither any evidence nor any witnesses in either case.

An accountability court earlier today sentenced former premier Nawaz Sharif to seven years in prison in Al-Azizia Steel Mills corruption reference, while acquitting him in the Flagship Investment reference.

“There is no evidence, nor any witness in either case. In fact, [the] witnesses said Nawaz Sharif has no connection to the [case]. This is another black [day] for Pakistan, another black decision,” Abbasi said.

The PML-N leader pointed out that the Al-Azizia Steel mills were built when Nawaz was out of the country. “If this is the proof that Nawaz has been convicted for, then every Pakistani working abroad is a criminal,” Abbasi lamented.

“We have faced Musharraf in the past, we will face this as well,” he vowed, adding that the party workers will protest both inside and outside the Parliament, but will not resort to violence.

“We will not do anything that hurts democracy,” Abbasi added.

Nawaz’s daughter, Maryam, called the accountability court’s verdict in the Al-Azizia reference the “last hiccup of blind revenge”.

Taking to Twitter shortly after the sentencing, she said, “One man has been sentenced for the fourth time. This is the last hiccup of blind revenge.”

“But success is of Nawaz Sharif, all praises to the Almighty. After a long accountability process spanning 2.5 years and three generations being probed, not a single penny’s worth of corruption, kickbacks or corruption was proven. Even malpractice in the national exchequer could not be detected,” she added.

“All the decisions were based on his [Nawaz] late father’s personal businesses. When they could not find anything wrong with them either, then sentences were handed based on assumptions. Today’s verdict is a testimony of Nawaz Sharif’s honesty and integrity,” Maryam stated.