ISLAMABAD: Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb said on Friday that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif did not misstate in his speech on the Panama Papers issue in parliament on May 16 last year.

“Whatever allegations are made by our opponents, the prime minister has not misstated in his speech,” the information minister said while talking to reporters outside the Supreme Court after the Panama Papers case’s hearing.

She criticised the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) for what she called giving ‘false arguments’ in court. “The case cannot be won in the court through false arguments and baseless allegations,” she added.

The minister said the PTI’s lawyer was giving arguments not on the allegations levelled against the prime minister in the petition.

PTI spokesman says party will keep people informed

She lambasted PTI chairman Imran Khan for using abusing language against the prime minister and his daughter Maryam Nawaz. She said Mr Sharif was a civilised citizen and leaders and workers of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) always followed him. “We do not use abusive language in our meetings,” she added.

In reply to a question why the government held press conferences daily to clarify the prime minister’s position, she said: “I am bound to give response to misstatements of PTI leaders.”

Meanwhile, PTI spokesman Naeemul Haq said at a separate press conference that it was habit of PML-N leaders to tell lies in politics. “PTI is against use of foul language,” he said.

He said the PTI would raise its voice whenever the government would created hurdles in the way of justice and fair play. “We will call a corrupt person corrupt to keep people informed about facts,” he added.

The PTI spokesman warned the government that threats and suppression would cause anger among people.

He said the government was violating the orders of the Supreme Court that the premises of the apex court should not be used for political motives and statements.

Mr Haq said the Panama Papers case was one of the important cases of the country and, therefore, serious talks and statements were required.

Published in Dawn January 21st, 2017