The opposition leader in National Assembly Khursheed Shah on Saturday criticized former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif for handpicking his younger brother as next prime minister, terming it a pity that he did not find anyone in parliament worthy to fill the top slot. He expressed these views while addressing a meeting of Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) at National Press Club, here.
"Isn't there anybody in National Assembly who could become the prime minister? Why it was felt necessary to bring a person from outside the Parliament? Shahbaz Sharif is involved in the Hudaibiya Papers Mills case and it can create problems for PML-N in the future," he added. Shah said by hand-picking his own brother as next prime minister; Nawaz Sharif proved that there is no worthy to become prime minister. He said that PML-N government did not give importance to the parliament and that is the reason they had to face all these problems.
"We have always been giving importance to the parliament and had always asked PML-N to do so but it paid no heed, and this resulted in putting a permanent full stop to his political carrier," he said. The Opposition Leader hailed the Supreme Court's ruling which disqualified Nawaz Sharif for life in the Panama Papers case. He said that independent and right decisions of the institutions make the state and democratic system stronger.
He urged all political forces to accept the decision of the Supreme Court and work for the progress and prosperity of the country. Shah, however, said from the day one, he had been asking Nawaz Sharif that parliament was the source of his strength. "I had been asking Nawaz Sharif from day-one that Parliament is the source of strength for him so he should deal it with respect and dignity" he said. He regretted that PML-N opted to stay away from Parliament and masses which not only the ruling party but also proved disastrous for Nawaz Sharif.
He said that PPP had always supported democracy and was committed to do so in the future. Answering a question, he said that PPP had wanted to repeal the some clauses of Articles 62 and 63 of the Constitution but at that time PML-N did not agree. Now, Naveed Qamar has once again given same proposal in the Parliament Committee on Electoral Reforms for preparing draft of legislation but PML-N members once again opposed it, he said. "Pakistan Peoples Party had always rendered unmatched sacrifices for democracy as Benazir Bhutto sacrificed her life for democracy that is why she is still alive in the history," he declared.