Former Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi has expressed his inability to defend his party’s position, emphasizing that only the party president can effectively address such matters. During an interview with a private television channel on Saturday, when questioned about the PML-N’s future strategy, Abbasi indicated that it was the responsibility of the party president to provide answers. He underscored the importance of explaining why the party had altered its narrative and deviated from its previous stance.
Abbasi also attributed the current state of the country to the alleged “election theft” in 2018 and suggested that his party’s performance over the past 16 months would influence voter support. He acknowledged that voters pose questions for which the party lacks answers, which he believed could impact electoral outcomes.
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Regarding the tenure of former army chief General Javed Qamar Bajwa, Abbasi acknowledged Bajwa’s role in creating a hybrid system. He pointed out that General Bajwa had publicly mentioned his involvement in securing the necessary numbers for the confidence motion in favor of Imran Khan’s government.
In an effort to ensure a smooth transition for former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif back into the country’s political landscape, the PML-N’s legal team plans to file an application for protective bail in the Lahore High Court (LHC) just two days before his return, preempting any potential arrest. Sources close to the matter revealed that the legal team has consulted extensively with Nawaz Sharif, Shehbaz Sharif, and Maryam Nawaz, and they have developed a mutually agreeable strategy with the party’s leadership.
The legal team is optimistic about securing a security period of three to seven days from the high court, which would prevent law enforcement agencies from arresting Nawaz Sharif at the airport, thanks to the presence of a security bond. Additionally, the legal team argues that since Maryam Nawaz has been acquitted in the case for which Nawaz Sharif was convicted, he is likely to benefit from the court’s decision, thereby receiving full legal protection.
Furthermore, Nawaz Sharif intends to surrender before an Islamabad court following a rally upon his return to the country. It is expected that upon surrendering, the trial court will suspend the decision to declare him an absconder. With the security bond in place, Nawaz Sharif will not be required to go to jail immediately upon his return, providing him some relief as he navigates the impending legal proceedings.
