RAWALPINDI: Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, his daughter Maryam Nawaz and son-in-law retired Mohammad Safdar were received by a jubilant crowd of PML-N workers outside Adiala Jail on Wednesday after their sentences were suspended by the Islamabad High Court (IHC) and they were released on bail.

The workers gathered outside the jail soon after the verdict was announced. They chanted slogans, hugged one another and danced. They distributed sweets and showered rose petals around the crowd.

The area was crowded even during the night. PML-N President Shahbaz Sharif, Khawaja Asif, Chaudhry Tanveer, Murtaza Javed Abbasi, Mehtab Abbasi, Javed Hashmi, Mushahid Ullah Khan and other leaders also went to receive the Sharifs at Adiala.

Workers tried to get into the jail but were stopped. They showered Nawaz, Maryam and Safdar with rose petals when they came out of Adiala after a 63-day incarceration. The convoy carrying the Sharifs took more than two and a half hours to reach District Court Square, which is usually a 15-minite drive.

Workers carried placards with pictures of Nawaz Sharif and some were inscribed with slogans such as ‘Go Imran Go’ and ‘Ro Imran Ro’.

Speaking on the occasion, PML-N’s Javed Hashmi said the IHC verdict was a victory for Nawaz Sharif, who he said was fighting for the supremacy of parliament.

He said Nawaz Sharif chose to go to jail instead of changing his stance on the supremacy of parliament and the Constitution. He said the PML-N was working for strengthening of the institutions and the rule of law.

Talking to media persons, Mayor Sardar Naseem said the IHC verdict is a victory for the PML-N as the former premier is innocent.

“The verdict is proof that Nawaz Sharif is innocent and all allegations against him were false and fabricated. Though the election result was stolen, the people still consider Nawaz Sharif their prime minister and rejected the politics of the PTI,” he said.

Former PML-N MNA Malik Shakil Awan said the politics of destruction, blame and lies end with the court verdict and that all cases against Nawaz Sharif will prove to be fabricated soon.

Published in Dawn, September 20th, 2018