Terming the outcome of October 14 by-election a message for future, former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif Monday said that election results like this came for the first time in the country's history during the initial 50 to 60 days of a government.
While talking to media persons after appearing before the Accountability Court in connection with the hearing of Flagship reference, Sharif said that his party received more votes than his expectation. "In spite of the current situation when I was sent to jail and cases were made against my brother Shehbaz Sharif, the people came out to vote for Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N)," he remarked.
"Shahid Khaqan Abbasi emerged victorious during by-election and we even nearly won from Rawalpindi's constituency," he said, adding that their candidates defeated the PTI.
Criticising the present government, he said, "In the last four years, dollar did not exceed Rs 104 but see the increase in rate of dollar and price hike within last 50 days." During the PML-N government, basic items were available at affordable rates and the poor were satisfied, he claimed.
He said, "The world knows how the cases are being framed against me and Shehbaz." He said that everyone knows the way Saad Rafique is being treated, as he will be imprisoned tomorrow if not today, adding that he and Shahid Khaqan Abbasi are facing a treason case, but God willing the difficult time will change.
Sharif was present during the hearing in the court; however, he was later allowed by the court to leave. During the course of hearing, the prosecution witness and the head of joint investigation team (JIT) who probed Panama Papers case, Wajid Zia started recording his statement in the Flagship Investment reference.
Zia told the court that the JIT requested and got the powers under section 21 of the National Accountability Ordinance (NAO), 1999 which authorised him being a head of the JIT to exercise these powers. These powers allow the head of JIT to initiate mutual legal assistance (MLAs) requests and receive their response, he said, adding that the JIT sent MLA requests to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the United Kingdom which are relevant to this reference among others. The response of the MLA request related to this reference was received only from the UAE, he said.
He said that the JIT also collected record from different departments like Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) and Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP), etc. The JIT also recorded the statement of witnesses like Tariq Shafi, Shehbaz Sharif, Nawaz Sharif, Hussain Nawaz and Hassan Nawaz, he said.
The witness further said that the JIT also collected record of civil miscellaneous application (CMA), submitted in the case by the petitioners and defendants, from the Supreme Court.
He produced before the court different documents including supplementary concise statement dated November 15, 2016 submitted by Maryam Nawaz, Hussain Nawaz and Hassan Nawaz, sale contract of 75 percent shares of Ahli Steel Company of 1978, partnership agreement of 1978 between Ahli and Tariq Shafi, share sale agreement of Ahli Steel Company dated April 14, 1980, and the statement of the accused Hussain Nawaz and Hassan Nawaz.
Zia also produced an affidavit of Tariq Shafi dated January 20, 2017, a copy of letter of Sheikh Hammad Bin Jasim Al-Thani dated December 22, 2016, worksheet for settlement, statement of Sheikh Hammad Bin Jasim Al-Thani dated November 15, 2016 submitted by Maryam, Hussain Nawaz and Hassan Nawaz, and the response of MLA request by the UAE dated June 28, 2017. The court made the MLA response the part of the court record and adjourned the hearing till today (Tuesday).