LAHORE: Former premier Nawaz Sharif’s ‘strong criticism’ of Prime Minister Imran Khan and his policies reportedly forced the PTI government to ban the senior PML-N leaders from meeting their party chief in the Kot Lakhpat jail.

The PML-N believes that the Punjab government has taken this “extreme step” on the directive of Imran Khan.

On Thursday, the jail authorities allowed only five members of the family to meet Mr Sharif. They, however, denied his mother, sister, personal physician and many party leaders to see Mr Sharif on the plea that already “an allocated quota of five visitors of the former premier (in the day)” had been availed. PML-N president Shahbaz Sharif and vice president Maryam Nawaz were among the five persons allowed to see Mr Sharif. Thursday is fixed for prisoners’ weekly meeting with visitors.

Official sources told Dawn that the government had banned Mr Sharif’s meeting with his party leaders after he spoke against PM Khan which was reported in the media. “PM Khan and some other quarters did not like Mr Sharif’s political statements critical of the premier and his policies therefore they decided to silence him,” a source said, adding that the PM during his Lahore visit on Wednesday had directed Chief Minister Usman Buzdar to impose a ban on PML-N leaders’ visit to the jail.

PML-N sees it as reaction to diatribe against premier

In his last interaction with the party leaders in the jail on June 13, Mr Sharif had said PM Khan would soon get his just deserts. “People’s miseries due to the unprecedented price hike and inflation have made me sad. Imran Khan is an inept person. His Banigala house was built through graft. No one takes into account his (Imran) sister Aleema Khan’s corruption. Imran Khan had ruined the country’s economy. He is hit-wicket out because of his anti-people and vindictive policies. (PM) Khan commands no respect in the world; even the Indian prime minister (Narendra Modi) neither took his telephone calls nor invited him to his swearing-in ceremony because he is a selected premier,” Mr Sharif had said.

PML-N Information Secretary Marriyum Aurangzeb said on Thursday the PTI government was even afraid of the man who was in jail. “We strongly protest this ‘fascist attitude’ of the rulers. Through such tactics what kind of message the selected government is giving to the nation and the world. It is highly regrettable that the three-time prime minister who made this country atomic power and overcame loadshedding is being treated like a terrorist in jail,” she said and added that the PML-N would resist this dictatorial mindset of the PTI government.

Mr Sharif’s personal physician Dr Adnan Khan in a tweet said: “Today waited hours outside Kot Lakhpat Jail to see former PM #NawazSharif, was not allowed despite repeated requests made to authorities. I can’t emphasise enough that his health requires constant & regular specialised medical care & attention. This is inhuman and inconsiderate.”

As a good number of PML-N workers had gathered outside the jail to greet their leaders, one of them was injured after he was hit by Shahbaz Sharif’s car. He was taken to hospital and Shahbaz announced bearing his treatment expenses.

Meanwhile, Maryam Nawaz strongly reacted to the rejection of a petition seeking suspension of the sentence of Mr Sharif in the Al-Azizia reference on medical grounds by the Islamabad High Court.

“I will raise voice for this injustice and go to the last extent. I will get justice for the real representative of the masses. Very soon it will be revealed what game was played against Nawaz Sharif,” she tweeted. She said it was not only Nawaz Sharif but there were several other prisoners of conscience that were languishing in jail. “Democratic values, freedom of expression, freedom of the media and rule of law… all are behind the bars,” Maryam said.

Published in Dawn, June 21st, 2019