While stressing upon equal applicability of law, Federal Minister for Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhry said there were low expectations about the return of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif to Pakistan.
Addressing a press conference here, the federal minister said it was now worthy to observe whether or not Nawaz Sharif was turning back to the country. However, there were low expectations in that regard, he added.
Chaudhary said Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government believed in rule of law. He said justice demanded that facility extended to former prime minister Nawaz Sharif should also be available to other prisoners.
The minister said Prime Minister Imran Khan and the cabinet demonstrated magnanimity when they demanded an indemnity bond for Nawaz Sharif's travel abroad for medical treatment. He said the government had not made any cases against Nawaz Sharif and he was facing prison in the cases registered in the past.
He criticized by saying, "Mian Sahib has completed his journey from 'Mujhay Kyun Nikala' to 'Khuda Kay Liye Mujhay Nikalo' at a fast pace. It seems that Nawaz Sharif is healthy; however, he will be treated in London now."
Chaudhry said he had sympathy for those Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) workers who put themselves into trouble for Nawaz Sharif. The minister further said that law should be same for the common and important persons. He added that laws were apparently different for the common man and an elite one. He added it was the failure of the society to treat common and elite people separately in terms of law.
The minister said he had opposed the decision to allow Sharif for departing abroad which apparently gave a message against the rule of law.
The minister said that an appeal should be filed in the Supreme Court against the Lahore High Court's (LHC) verdict in his personal opinion to challenge the permission granted to the former premier to leave the country.
He revealed that the federal cabinet was likely to take a decision to challenge the LHC's verdict in the top court. Chaudhry said they were part of a democratic system and not a monarchy to implement harsh punishments against anyone.
Chaudhry said that many ailing prisoners should also be given permission to leave the country. He was of the view that it was a struggle to bring changes in the system which needed support from the masses.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2019
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