LAHORE: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz vice president Maryam Nawaz has asked retired Justice Azmat Saeed to “bow out respectfully from the Broadsheet scam probe or risk more revelations about his role against the elected [PML-N] government”.

“The former judge was part of a conspiracy against an elected government and then prime minister Nawaz Sharif and he must quit the commission,” she told the media at Khokhar Palace here on Wednesday.

Ms Nawaz had visited the palace in Jauhar Town to express solidarity with party MNA Afzal Khokar and MPA Saiful Malook Khokhar and their families after the Punjab government demolished their houses on Sunday for being built on state land.

“Who does not know how he [Justice Azmat] influenced the formation and working of the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) against an elected government. It was he who made [in]famous WhatsApp calls to get people he can influence in the JIT and ensure desired results against an elected prime minister,” she said.

Says former judge was part of conspiracy against Nawaz government

On top of it all, she added, “the former judge had been part of NAB when it signed the scandalous agreement. After doing all this, how can he head the commission investigating his own doing?”

Ms Nawaz said PML-N could not bring all what it had on record then. “Now it will! It will make everything public how the justice himself threatened the party leaders and workers during the proceedings.”

Responding to a question about differences in the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM), she said the government was turning its “wishes into rumours”, adding that the news of differences in the opposition’s alliance could only be a PTI wish, not a reality.

“The PDM has exemplary coordination, given the fact that it is a 10-party alliance with each one of them having its own plan, agenda and manifesto. Even if there is any difference of opinion on any issue, it is discussed and debated within the alliance and consensus is built,” she added.

Commenting on PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari’s suggestion that the PDM should “go for a no-confidence motion to get rid of Prime Minister Imran Khan”, Ms Nawaz said she had heard it on television, where “he said that he would convince the PDM leadership on the viability of his suggestion. We need to wait for the next meeting of the PDM heads to see what he meant and how he convinces others”.

On the demolition of Khokhar brothers’ residences, which was later stayed by the Lahore High Court, she said: “Prime Minister Imran Khan himself oversaw and ensured the demolition of properties. I have come to know that a person whose name is Imran Khan, personally sat down and monitored the demolition operation.”

The Punjab government had demolished several structures around the houses of Khokhar brothers and their relatives in Johar Town in a day-long operation on Sunday. The operation was condemned by the PML-N as “political vendetta aimed at forcing change in loyalties”.

“The Khokhar brothers have been under pressure to either oppose the party leadership or quit the party or stop participating in political activities. When they refused, retaliatory action followed and their homes were razed in a cowardly act,” Ms Nawaz said.

Published in Dawn, January 28th, 2021