Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz's (PML-N) nominee for the post of prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi on Sunday challenged his opponents to prove irregularities in his finances, saying "whoever wants to file a reference against me, he is free to do so".
Talking to media persons after his meeting with Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, he said that his hands are clean and challenged his opponents to find even a single financial irregularity against him.
About Nawaz Sharif's disqualification by the Supreme Court, he said: "To my understanding of legal matters, there is no harm in possessing an Iqama - it's just a visa - but nowadays, laws are being interpreted in a way which is beyond anyone's comprehension".
"I have disclosed all my assets and their details are published in Pakistan Gazette. So those levelling baseless allegations [against me] should check their own acts first," he said. He said that the PML-N accepted the Supreme Court's verdict completely and carried out the implementation. "We believe that the public hasn't accepted the decision, it wasn't accepted internationally and will not be historically as well," said Abbasi.
Answering a question about the speculations regarding the involvement of the military in the Prime Minter's ouster, he said, "There are no two sides in this country; we all are one and work for the betterment of this country in a united way."
Responding to another question regarding whether Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan would be included in the next cabinet or not given the recent rifts, Abbasi said that the decision had not been taken as yet. "There is importance of Chaudhry Nisar and he has always been a part of PML-N and it will always be that way for us." He said that the PML-N had made a decision and everyone had acted on it. "There is no conflict in the party. We may have given in, but history will not accept this decision [to disqualify Nawaz Sharif] - the nation has not accepted this decision". Abbasi, while referring to the JUI-F chief, said that Fazl and his party are supporting the ruling PML-N.
Maulana Fazl said that his party is not supporting an individual or a party but the decision to support PML-N is for the country's sake. He said that the coalition's responsibility is to be supportive and save Pakistan from external conspiracies.
He added that the journey to development will continue regardless of circumstances.