LAHORE: The PML-N said on Wednesday that an attempt to “minus” former prime minister Nawaz Sharif from the country’s politics has failed miserably as he still “rules the hearts of Pakistanis”.

“No connection of Nawaz and Maryam with the Avenfield properties has been proved yet. They are innocent. The PML-N should be informed as to why a notification to hold their trial in jail has been issued as they are not terrorists. Which cabinet meeting issued the notification?” PML-N spokesperson Marriyum Aurengzeb said at a press conference here.

She said despite his trial and imprisonment Nawaz was still the most popular leader of the country and ruled the hearts of the people.

“Nawaz’s voters will come out on July 25 and elect its (PML-N) candidates,” she said, adding that despite so many attempts the supporters and voters of the PML-N could not be suppressed.

She complained about “selective accountability” by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), saying it was calling PML-N President Shahbaz Sharif regularly, while Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf chairman Imran Khan had been asked to appear before it on Aug 7. She said last Friday a large number of people thronged the roads in the PML-N rally.

“This reaction of the people will not stop,” she warned.

Ms Aurenzeb said the party’s anti-rigging system would be launched on Thursday (today) to expose those involved in pre-poll and poll-day rigging. She asked the Election Commission to take measures to make the polls transparent and also ensure a level playing field for every party.

To a question about the party’s reported plan to launch Maryam’s son Junaid Safdar in politics, she said: “No decision to launch Junaid in politics has been made yet as he is concentrating on his studies.”

She denied that the Ms Maryam’s media cell had been closed, also dismissing reports about “differences” between Nawaz and Shahbaz.

About the condition of ailing Begum Kulsoom Nawaz, Ms Aurengzeb said: “Her (Ms Kulsoom’s) condition is still serious.”

She said the popularity graph of Imran Khan and the PTI could be gauged from ‘empty chairs’ in the party’s recent public meetings.

She asked as to why there had been no decision in the foreign funding case against the PTI.

The ex-minister said the implementation of the Charter of Democracy was affected after the assassination of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto.

Meanwhile, Ishrat Bhular, a PML-N office-bearer, alleged that the former minister had demanded money for securing a party ticket for him from the party leadership. He resigned from the office of the party’s Lahore chief organiser.

Published in Dawn, July 19th, 2018