ISLAMABAD, Sept 11: Central Information Secretary of PML-N, Ahsan Iqbal, said on Tuesday that efforts for restoration of democracy would continue.

In a statement from jail released by the party here, he alleged that Nawaz Sharif was illegally deported after his return from exile despite the verdict of the Supreme Court.

He said the government’s action and arrest of leaders and workers of PML-N would not dampen the on-going pro-democracy campaign of the party.

Ahsan Iqbal, who was taken into custody in Islamabad on Monday and shifted to a jail in Bahawalpur, said the PML-N was striving for the supremacy of the law and the constitution in the country.

He said the apex court had given a clear verdict on August 23 that Nawaz and Shahbaz had inalienable right to return and remain in Pakistan.

The PML-N information secretary said there was no legal importance of the understanding between Nawaz Sharif and the Saudi government under which he had left Pakistan in 2000 for Saudi Arabia.

He said Nawaz Sharif had not disclosed in the past the five- year exile understanding with Saudis because of mutual decision not to speak about it publicly.

“It was not a deal. It was an understanding with the Kingdom and not with the Pakistani government,” he added.

“We have close relations with the Kingdom but the Pakistani government has involved a friendly country to compel Sharif family not to participate in national politics”, he added.

Ahsan Iqbal claimed that the law enforcement agencies had mistreated the former prime minister in the presence of international media during his brief stay at the Islamabad airport.

He said September 10 would be remembered as a “black day” in the history of Pakistan.

Begum Kulsoon Nawaz, he said, would arrive in the country soon to join the PML-N movement for restoration of democracy and rule of law. He criticized the policies of the government and said the nation has to decide the future of the country.

Rasool Bux Palejo, a central leader of Awami Tehreek, speaking at a press conference in Islamabad at the PML-N camp office, alleged that Nawaz Sharif was forcibly deported and condemned the action.—APP