FAZAL SHER

ISLAMABAD: Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif Monday raised grave doubts and said fair and free elections are not possible in ‘current situation’ and no one will accept the outcome of such polls. Talking to the media outside an accountability court hearing corruption cases against him and his family, Sharif said it has even been said that the performance of Punjab government is zero. “I do not understand the logic behind these words and such a discussion. Everyone knows about the performance of Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa governments,” he said. Earlier, Sharif along with his daughter Maryam Nawaz and son-in-law Cap Muhammad Safdar (retd) appeared before accountability court Judge Muhammad Bashir amid tight security arrangements.

Sharif reiterated his earlier demand that all political parties should be given a level playing field for participating in the general election. “If some parties are given freehand while others are pushed towards a dead end then this will be a pre-poll rigging…” he said.

He was of the view that country is heading towards unfair election. “It is also said that elections should be delayed. Why should the elections be delayed?” he questioned.

The former premier said Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar is using the language of his political opponents including PTI chairman Imran Khan and co-chairman Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Asif Ali Zardari.

The Chief Justice said there is no room for delaying general election which is correct, Sharif said. “The Chief Justice also said he does not believe in any judicial martial law but we do not see the implementation of these remarks,” he said. He voiced serious doubts in this regard.

About the issue of live broadcast of the court proceedings, he said he will speak to his lawyer if a petition can be submitted to the court in this regard.

To a question about his meeting with Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, he said they discussed the issue of caretaker setup.