Stepping up criticism of judiciary, former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif Wednesday said that Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar ought to focus only on issues that fall under his domain.
Talking to media persons after appearing before the Accountability Court hearing corruption cases against him and his family members, Sharif said that due to suo motu actions by the Chief Justice, functions and role of the Parliament have gone into the hands of others. "The political Parties Act has been struck down," he said, adding that he was removed as president of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N).
He further said the CJP has been paying visits to different hospitals and private medical colleges for the last few months. "May be we were the target of all those visits as well. We run a charitable hospital and a medical college. This cannot be used to target us," he claimed.
Sharif said, "I do not mean not to do this, but do something also for about 1.8 million pending cases in the courts. The people are waiting for their turns to get justice."
He skipped the question regarding outcome of the meeting between Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and CJP Mian Saqib Nisar, saying that meeting came to his knowledge only through electronic and print media.
Asked about reports that he is going abroad, the former Prime Minister said, "We are not those who run away. Never think about it." He said that his wife is ill but he is not allowed to inquire after her.
About the references filed against them, Sharif claimed that star prosecutions witness Wajid Zia while testifying before the court washed away all the allegations against the Sharif family members. He further claimed that the cases filed against them are not only political in nature but also a fraud. "A number of forces are part of this fraud against me and my family," he alleged, adding, "those who registered cases against us should be ashamed of their act."
Sharif said if they want to punish them at any cost then they should put their names in notorious scams including rental power plants, Hajj corruption, Employees' Old-Age Benefits Institution (EOBI) and National Insurance Company Limited (NICL) where billions of rupees had been embezzled.