ISLAMABAD: Senator Shibli Faraz on Monday criticised PML-N leader Maryam Nawaz’s threat to use political force during her appearance in NAB on March 26 and said such moves encourage criminals and corrupt.

Senator Faraz, who is yet to take oath as a cabinet member after the fresh Senate elections, also said no one will be allowed to resort to violent tactics to escape the grip of law.

Addressing a press conference, the PTI senator reiterated that noone should avoid the law and legal proceedings.

“Violent tactics will not be allowed. The whole nation is watching a woman using a political platform instead of responding to legal queries regarding attack on institutions,” he said and referred to an attack on the Supreme Court during Nawaz Sharif’s last tenure before the military coup.

He said the government will neither give any NRO to political opponents nor will be blackmailed by any pressure tactics.

“PTI has emerged as the largest party in the National Assembly and the Senate,” he said adding: “We will speed up the legislative process and bring reforms now.”

He said Maryam Nawaz’s tone in the youth convention on Sunday was disappointing,

“Maryam Nawaz’s tone seemed to be that of a person devoid of understanding and foresight,” he said and added that Maulana Fazlur Rehman had always used religion and Islam for his political purposes. These people have made politics an illegal business.

“These frustrated elements patronise every illegal business in their politics,” the PTI senator said and added that instead of explaining the source of her wealth and her family’s alleged corruption, Maryam Nawaz was threatening to attack a national institution.

“She is encouraging people to loot first and then attack institutions with a mob to evade law, “ he said, adding people of Pakistan are depressed to see how a leader is using a political platform by making threats like “cutting off and pulling out tongues.”

He said her attitude will incite the land mafia, hoarders and criminal elements to join a political party and when difficult times come they could use the political platform to attack institutions and even the judiciary.

“Even those sitting in jails may be thinking of intimidating and threatening decision makers during their court appearances by bringing a mob during their hearings.”

He stated that Maryam Nawaz wastelling the people that this was the party whose history was full of attacks on national institutions, including the Supreme Court.

He said Prime Minister Imran Khan stood firm on the fact that the future of the country was bright and he believed in rule of law.

Replying to a question regarding a long march by opposition, Senator Faraz said promises were made for March 26 with each other, and strategies made for that occasionhave been reduced to dust. They have to be defeated.

“PDM is over and now their politics too is about to end.”

He said Maryam Nawaz and Fazlur Rehman want to create law and order in the country to divert attention but it will not be allowed.”

Published in Dawn, March 23rd, 2021