ISLAMABAD: According to the reports, Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) raised concerns over speculations suggesting that the courts would grant “special relief” to former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif upon his return to the country on October 21.
In a statement made on Monday, PPP Secretary General Syed Nayyer Husain Bukhari stated that Nawaz Sharif, the leader of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), had been convicted by courts of law. He emphasized that upon his return, Nawaz Sharif would have to face the law, as he had left the country in 2019 with the consent of the government led by then-Prime Minister Imran Khan and as per a judicial decision.
Bukhari expressed his surprise at the idea that the judiciary might establish a precedent by granting special relief to Nawaz Sharif. He also reiterated the PPP’s demand for the announcement of an election date and schedule, emphasizing that elections were essential for the continuity of the parliamentary system. He further stressed that the PPP sought a level playing field for all parties.
Bukhari noted the PPP’s historical contributions, stating that the party had played a pivotal role in introducing the Constitution to the country and making sacrifices to ensure its enforcement, as well as the protection of democratic, human, and economic rights for the people of Pakistan.
Regarding the caretaker government, he pointed out that their mandate was to assist the Election Commission of Pakistan in conducting transparent elections. He emphasized that the caretaker government should remain neutral and step down after fulfilling its responsibility of conducting free, fair, and transparent elections. Bukhari also called on the Supreme Court to ensure the implementation of its decisions regarding the elections.
A few days prior, National Assembly Speaker and former Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf also expressed suspicions of a potential understanding behind Nawaz’s return
