LAHORE: The PML-N says it has deferred its demand for accountability of former generals and judges who allegedly had Nawaz Sharif “dethroned”, until an “appropriate time”, adding that it hasn’t “forgotten these characters”.

The party also announced on Tuesday that supreme leader Nawaz Sharif will get protective bail ahead of his return to the country on Oct 21 and surrender to court in the Al Azizia corruption case after addressing a rally at Minar-i-Pakistan.

“[A] revengeful approach caused the problems we are facing today. However, we will not forget those who wronged Nawaz Sharif and the PML-N, and at an appropriate time, such things will be settled,” said PML-N Punjab president and former interior minister Rana Sanaullah when asked at a presser if the party had backtracked from its demand of accountability of former generals and judges.

Mr Sanaullah said the judicial establishment was responsible for the ouster of Nawaz in 2017 through a “managed decision”.

Rana Sanaullah says Nawaz will secure protective bail before his return

He didn’t mention the role of the military establishment of 2O17 in this respect which he in the past used to name, though he made derogatory remarks about former chief justice of Pakistan Saqib Nisar.

Asked if things had been settled with ‘certain quarters’ regarding securing protective bail, the close aide to the elder Sharif said: “We are confident that Nawaz is innocent and he will get court relief without any ‘signal’ from any quarters.”

He said Nawaz’s legal team was working on securing relief on his cases. “He will get protective bail ahead of his return on Oct 21 and surrender to the court after addressing a rally at Minar-i-Pakistan,” Sanaullah said and dismissed reports that Nawaz might review his return date.

“By all means Nawaz will arrive on Oct 21 at Lahore and people from across the country will reach Lahore to give him a rousing welcome,” he claimed.

The PML-N leader claimed that Nawaz’s speech at Minar-i-Pakistan would be live telecast by the media. “Main focus of Nawaz’s speech/narrative will be Pakistan,” he said.

Since Nawaz Sharif had been declared a proclaimed offender by the court of law and his speeches banned on broadcast media, there has been no directive of Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) regarding lifting the ban on his live or recorded speeches.

Replying to another question whether Nawaz had gone and decided to return in result of some kind of deal with the powers that be, the former interior minister said: “This is not the case. In fact he was pushed out of country (in 2019).”

Asked as most of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf leadership is in jail, the PML-N has been given an open field to contest polls and form government, Mr Sanaullah said: “Who asked Imran Khan and PTI to commit May 9 (folly)? In fact there was a clear sequence of events… PTI held long march last November in anticipation of the appointment of the army chief and subsequently an effort to cause mutiny in the army was made. Those involved in May 9 events should not be pardoned.”

He said that those in jail (a reference to Mr Khan and other PTI leaders) and off air were facing the consequences of their actions.

Asked about a ‘poor show’ in Lahore’s Shahdara area which was addressed by the party chief organiser Maryam Nawaz last Sunday, he said it didn’t reflect the party’s popularity.

Mr Sanaullah said that the PPP was being critical of the PML-N merely to attract voters in Punjab.

Published in Dawn, October 4th, 2023