AMJAD ALI SHAH

PESHAWAR: Former prime minister and Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif on Monday demanded the constitution of a national commission to probe into allegations of treason.

“Let the [would-be] commission decide who traitor is. Hang all those who have betrayed the country,” said Nawaz while addressing a public meeting in district Buner of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

About his recent interview about Mumbai attacks, Nawaz lamented that those who were abrogating the Constitution were not being brought to justice while those who sincerely served the country are being penalized.

He said that a national commission should be formed and he would appear before the commission and those who labeling him as traitor should also appear before it.

He observed that the country was being isolated in the world.

He asked the people to give the PML-N votes for annulment of his disqualification. He said that he was struggling for the sanctity of vote, adding that 2018 will be the year of PML-N. He said that he was disqualified as prime minister for not taking salary from his son, adding that other prime minister also faced similar treatment.

Speaking obliquely, Sharif stated that the person who had made country an atomic power, erected motorways and abolished power loadshedding being tagged as defector. Sharif inquired that whether [step of] making country an atomic power was an act of treason or of patriotism.

The former prime minister also took credit for clearing Buner of terrorists and said: “We salute the people of Buner to have bravely faced the trials and tribulations during the tough times.”

He said that the PTI has failed to deliver in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and promised that after coming into power, the PML-N would make new Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Taking a jibe at National Accountability Board (NAB) chairman, Sharif apprised attendants that allegations of money laundering worth $5bn were hurled at him. “The chairman of anti-graft watchdog should be summoned on issue [of money laundering] as the nation demands his accountability too. The NAB chairman would have to seek apology on this issue,” asserted Sharif.

Sharif urged stalwarts to vote for the PML-N if they wanted to quash ouster verdict.

Earlier, speaking at the rally on the occasion, daughter of Nawaz Sharif and PML-N leader Maryam Nawaz asked that if former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, the man who made Pakistan a nuclear state, eliminated loadshedding, could be a traitor. She said that reasons were being used to disrespect public representatives, adding that now card of traitor was being used against Nawaz Sharif.

The PML-N leader rejected the fatwas being issued against public representatives. “The love of people for Nawaz Sharif was increasing day by day,” Maryam said and added they will continue struggle for the respect of vote in Pakistan. She said that the former premier made Pakistan first Muslim nuclear state after challenging the whole world.

“Nawaz eliminated loadshedding from the country, eradicated sense of deprivation from Balochistan and brought provinces close to one another.”

Maryam went on to say that the PML-N supremo doesn’t need certificate of patriotism from anyone.