LAHORE: Awami Muslim League chief Sheikh Rashid Ahmad on Saturday accused Nawaz Sharif of damaging the country, which, he said, was going through its most critical period and facing serious internal threats.

Talking to media persons at an Iftaar party here he claimed the Supreme Court had “clearly ordered” trial of Prime Minister Shaid Khaqan Abbasi in LNG case in a NAB court. He claimed that NAB courts would try the premier Abbasi and Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif.

He said the election atmosphere was being polluted. Nawaz Sharif was using objectionable language against the judiciary, army and the accountability, he added.

He said Nawaz Sharif was defaming the country by talking against the army, adding that the ousted premier was doing (such acts against Paksitan) which the RAW, MOSAD and KGB could not do.

It seemed that Nawaz Sahrif would next talk on Kargil, he said.

He warned the country was moving towards a civil war. A person who was removed for corruption was challenging army and the judiciary, he said.

He said Nawaz Sharif should tell the nation as to how his sons owned the London properties in a span of 14 to 16 years.

“Maryam has paved the way for his (Nawaz’s) conviction,” he alleged, wondering whether Nawaz Sharif could appeal to the president against his possible conviction.

He said several writs were pending in connection with delimitation of new constituencies, adding they would soon be demarcated.

Sheikh Rashid said there was no harm if the elections were delayed for some weeks, but the exercise would be conducted before the retirement of Chief Justice Justice Mian Saqib Nisar.

He alleged that Shahbaz Sharif awarded contracts to a black listed company. Projects of Sahiwal solar power and Metro bus were evidence of corruption readily available for NAB, he added.

He alleged that China apprehended corruption in CPEC projects.

He claimed his party (AML) and the PTI would win the next general elections and he would help Imran Khan in becoming the next prime minister of the country.

He thanked Imran Khan for fighting the Panama case and exposing the PML-N in the Khatam-i-Nabuwat incident.

He said Shahbaz was holding photo sessions at hospitals for self-aggrandisement.

Referring to ‘Spy Chronicles’ the book comprising interviews by ex-ISI chief Asad Durrani and the RAW’s former head, he said Pakistan army could not be affected by such “little things”. He prayed for an impartial and responsible caretaker prime minister.

Published in Dawn, May 27th, 2018