LAHORE: PML-N Senior Vice President Maryam Nawaz said on Saturday that the May 9 violence suspects should be tried in military courts, claiming that the civil judiciary was already acting as a “tool” for the PTI.
Maryam stated during a ceremony in Lahore that she was not in favour of sending civilian matters to military courts, but that it was not appropriate given the current scenario.
“Take a look at the situation of civil courts. They have become divisive and a tool of a political party. “What will become of justice now?” She went on to say.
The PML-N representative, who is the daughter of the party’s supremo, former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, went on to add that on May 9, the PTI took measures that no political party had ever taken before.
On May 9, dozens of Rangers personnel arrested PTI chairman and deposed premier Imran Khan from the premises of the Islamabad High Court, sparking nationwide protests in which enraged party activists allegedly attacked military installations across the country and damaged public and private properties, including the Jinnah House, which serves as the Lahore corps commander’s residence in the provincial capital of Punjab.
Maryam said that her father Nawaz had urged the then-army chief and head of the country’s principal intelligence agency to return Imran from where he had been taken during the first public meeting of the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM).
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She went on to say that her father had spoken out against the two army officers but had not targeted the military as a whole or any of its sites.
The PML-N leader went on to say that if Imran had been convicted in the prior cases against him, the May 9 carnage may have been avoided.
Maryam insisted that no one was granted bail while in custody anywhere in the globe.
She did, however, note that the Supreme Court had granted bail to the PTI head while he was in custody.
She stated that there was criticism of military tribunals, but she did not know what the civilian judiciary was up to.
“They [civil courts] repeatedly issue stay orders [in PTI cases] so that legal proceedings cannot proceed.” In this situation, who can be trusted?” Maryam was curious.
She went on to say that the “mother-in-law” and “favourite” law was in effect in the country.
According to the PML-N leader, the judges were protesting that their orders were not being implemented without regard for the decisions they were making.
She recalls the PML-N launching a campaign for judicial independence.
Maryam said that former Pakistan Chief Justice Asif Saeed Khosa had lobbied her father for an extension of his stay as the country’s top judge.
“Why did [ex-CJP] Khosa send a message to my father requesting an extension while he [Nawaz] was in prison?” “Take your paper away from here and scram,” my father said in response to his request.
The PML-N leader insisted that the current Chief Justice of Pakistan, Justice Umar Ata Bandial, had not learned from his mistakes in the past.
She went on to say that former Chief Justice Khosa would face the law one day.
“If I talk about Dam Walay Baba [former CJP] Saqib Nisar, he won’t be able to show his face to anyone,” she continued.
Maryam claimed that former CJP Nisar’s son was discovered blackmailing PTI candidates.
“These people have become a sign of a lesson from nature, and [CJP] Umar Ata Bandial is also walking down the same path,” she added.
The PML-N leader stated that the country is currently being oppressed by the PTI.
She pointed out that the memorials and photos of martyrs were set on fire on May 9, despite the fact that they had given their lives for the country.
Maryam went on to say that the martyrs belonged to the entire country, not just the army.
She recalls the PTI cursing soldiers who embraced martyrdom in a helicopter tragedy.
The PML-N leader questioned whether the PTI activists felt any remorse for torching the residence of the country’s founder.
She went on to say that Imran was now seeking proof of his party’s involvement in the crime.
“Has he not seen the photo of [Imran’s nephew] Hassan Niazi carrying a stick with an image of the army on it?” “He should listen to [PTI leader] Yasmin Rashid’s audio recording and watch her video in which she can be heard telling party activists that people, not animals, should be taken to the Lahore corps commander’s residence,” Maryam remarked.
According to the PML-N leader, the PTI has accused the government of collecting up its female activists.
She went on to say that the PTI had purposefully maintained its female campaigners in the forefront.
“Weren’t PTI women activists leading the attacks on military installations?” she wondered.
“Crime is crime.” It makes no difference whether it was perpetrated by a man or a woman.”
