Tag: Maryam Nawaz

  • ‘Inshallah,’ says Nawaz Sharif when asked about becoming PM for the fourth time

    ‘Inshallah,’ says Nawaz Sharif when asked about becoming PM for the fourth time

    Former Prime Minister (PM) and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif’s pre-recorded press conference with his daughter PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz was released on Sunday.

    During the interview, when Sharif was asked about the possibility of becoming PM of Pakistan for the fourth time, he smilingly said, “Inshallah” (Hopefully).

    The former premier began the interview by narrating the whole incident of his wife’s [Kalsoom Nawaz] illness and then her death. He said that he and Maryam were both in jail when they got to know about his wife’s death in London.

    He said when his wife was on her deathbed, people made fun of it. He said that one time when he was in court, he was informed that his wife’s health had worsened.

    “I went back to the jail and asked the jail superintendent to give me the phone so I can contact my family but he didn’t allow it.”

    He revealed that after three hours, he was informed about his wife’s death. He then said the bearers of the news were on their way to inform his daughter [who was also in Kot Lakhpat]. “At that point, I said no, I will do it and when I told her, she was in shock,” Nawaz said.

    He added that such events “are never forgotten and this loss can never be repaired or forgotten”.

    ‘We were the ones to say absolutely not’: Nawaz Sharif

    Addressing Imran’s stance of “absolutely not” to US airbases, Nawaz said, “We were the ones to say absolutely not. They offered us $5 billion but we said absolutely not. We don’t want it,” he was referring to the nuclear tests conducted during his tenure.

    According to Nawaz, when he was in power, his government had brought economic prosperity, finished loadshedding, increased employment, and eliminated terrorism but Imran Khan ruined it all. He said that now there is inflation everywhere.

    “He [Imran Khan] has taken a U-turn with regard to everything. He claimed that he would prefer dying by suicide instead of striking a deal with the IMF,” Nawaz said.

    Taking a jibe at Khan, Nawaz said that during Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) tenure foreign relations had also been affected.

    ‘Revenge, not a court’s decision’: Nawaz Sharif

    Moreover, he alleged that he was punished and disqualified for life by the Supreme Court (SC) but now lifetime disqualification is being criticised as “draconian” by SC judges.

    Nawaz questioned whether there was a “valid reason” for the decision. “Disqualified for life and removed from the PML-N presidency. This is revenge, not a court’s decision,” he added.

    Regarding the recent alleged audio leaks of Khan, Nawaz said that “the one who plotted has turned out to be the biggest conspirer”.

  • Former DG FIA Bashir Memon was locked in PM House’s washroom on Khan’s order

    Former DG FIA Bashir Memon was locked in PM House’s washroom on Khan’s order

    Former Director-General (DG) Federal Investigations Agency (FIA), Bashir Memon, has confirmed the claims made by a hacker that he was locked in a washroom on then-Prime Minister Imran Khan’s orders.

    The hacker, in a series of tweets which have now been deleted, shared details of the meeting between Memon and Khan on Monday. The hacker tweeted that Memon was locked in the washroom on Khan’s orders.

    Memon, responding to the claims, confirmed the details on Channel 24, saying the former premier used abusive language, and insulted Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Maryam Nawaz which made him angry and he responded harshly.

    At this, Memon added, the then-Principle Secretary to the PM, Azam Khan, grabbed his hand, took him out of the room and locked him in the washroom.

    “Azam Khan then scolded me over my conduct with the prime minister” said Memon.

  • ‘Nawaz Sharif ka rasta ab saaf hai’: Maryam Nawaz hints at her father’s return

    ‘Nawaz Sharif ka rasta ab saaf hai’: Maryam Nawaz hints at her father’s return

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Vice President Maryam Nawaz hinted that her father, PML-N supremo and former Prime Minister (PM) Nawaz Sharif, might soon return to Pakistan.

    Addressing a press conference on Tuesday, Maryam said, “Nawaz Sharif ka rasta ab saaf hai, sirf ab aik application deni hai court mei.” (The path to his return is clear now. All we have to do is submit an application in court.)

    The PML-N leader also revealed that now that she had received her passport, she would soon visit her father in London.

    “I am happy today that I have received my passport, but I would like to ask why I was deprived of my fundamental right for three years,” the PML-N leader asked.

    Taking a jibe at Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan, Maryam told the judiciary that it should not be lenient with a person like him who thinks like “satan” and whose only job is to blame people and launch smear campaigns.

    The PML-N leader said Khan went to the court of Additional District and Sessions Judge Zeba Chaudhry to apologise as he was aware that if he didnt do it, then he could be disqualified.

    “Was Zeba asked whether she wants to forgive him or not? Do you [courts] know what kind of precedent are you setting?” she said.

    Maryam noted that since Khan has been forgiven, the contempt cases against PML-N party leaders Talal Chaudhry, Daniyal Aziz, and Nehal Hashmi should also be disposed of.

    Referring to the misplacement of US cipher allegedly linked to Khan’s ouster, Maryam said that she is “At a loss of words” at the PTI chairman’s carelessness.

    “This wasn’t a record of a diamond ring that you misplaced or the record of the dollars that you took in the foreign funding case. It was Pakistan’s property,” she lashed out.

  • Khan, sorry, not sorry? Court dismisses contempt notice against Imran

    Khan, sorry, not sorry? Court dismisses contempt notice against Imran

    Islamabad High Court (IHC) Chief Justice Athar Minallah on Monday dismissed a contempt notice against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan. The ontempt case against the PTI chief was initiated after his controversial remarks against Additional District and Sessions Judge (ADSJ) Zeba Chaudhry at a public rally on August 20.

    A larger bench, headed by IHC Cheif Justice Athar Minallah and comprising Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani, Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb, Justice Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri, and Justice Babar Sattar, heard the case today.

    Talking to reporters after the hearing, Imran said: “Justice Athar Minallah has taken great decisions [in the past].” He also said that he would appear before the court if needed as he had done in the past.

    While announcing the verdict, the court discharged the contempt of court notice against Imran Khan.

    Following the court’s verdict, the PTI chief said that the court has taken a “great decision”.

    In response to the IHC verdict, PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz said that “fitna” has been forgiven.

    “The contempt was committed and in front of the entire world. So instead of saying that the case has been dismissed, it would be more appropriate to say that fitna has been forgiven,” Maryam wrote on Twitter.

    Khan submitted an affidavit to the IHC in a contempt of court case against him, saying he had realised he “Might have crossed a line” in his controversial remarks regarding Judge Zeba Chaudhry.

    However, it is pertinent to mention that, for the third time, Khan avoided tendering an unconditional apology to the court.

  • Maryam Nawaz gets her passport back after three years

    Maryam Nawaz gets her passport back after three years

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Vice President Maryam Nawaz received her passport on Monday after Lahore High Court (LHC) ordered that the passport be returned to her.

    She had surrendered her passport three years ago in order to get bail in the Chaudhry Sugar Mills money laundering case.

    “Alhamdulillah, my passport has been returned”, Maryam said in a tweet.

    “Due to the fear of my jalsas (rallies), fitna kept me in NAB for three months and in death cell in Kot Lakhpat Jail for investigation, but the case has not been filed to date”, she added.

    A three-member bench of the LHC, headed by Chief Justice (CJ) Muhammad Ameer Bhatti and comprising Justice Ali Baqar Najafi and Justice Tariq Saleem Sheikh heard the case on Monday (today). During the proceedings, Maryam’s counsel Muhammad Amjad Pervaiz argued that his client had been granted bail after she surrendered her passport in the Chaudhry Sugar Mills money laundering case but that despite the passage of a span of four years, no reference had been filed against her.

    Maryam, through her counsel, moved the fresh petition, arguing that in 2019, NAB had forced her to surrender her passport in this case, fearing that she would flee the country.

    Pervaiz also informed the court that the conviction in the Avenfield case could have caused difficulty in the return of her passport, but that the case has been closed.

    During the hearing, the federal government said that they have no objection to the plea. The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) prosecutor also said that his organisation has no objection to it. He added that they did not know whether the case came under their jurisdiction or not after the new amendments to NAB’s law.

    Last month, Maryam approached the court to get her passport released. She stated that she was unable to exercise her fundamental rights for the last four years despite the absence of any charge sheet or trial, as she had surrendered her passport in accordance with the court’s order when she was arrested in 2019.

    The case:

    As per details of Chaudhry Sugar Mill’s money-laundering investigation, NAB in January 2018 received a Financial Monitoring Unit (FMU) report describing suspicious transactions of billions of rupees under the Anti-Money Laundering Act.

    After receiving the FMU report, NAB started an inquiry in October 2018 and found that PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif, Maryam Nawaz, the incumbent PM Shehbaz Sharif, Abbas Sharif and family were shareholders in the company, along with foreigners from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the United Kingdom (UK).

    A probe revealed that investments in Chaudhry Sugar Mills from 2001 to 2017 worth billions of rupees were made under the guise of issuing shares for foreigners.

    Interestingly, later on, the same shares of the company were transferred back to Maryam, Hussain, and Nawaz Sharif on various occasions without any money paid to the said foreign business partners.

  • ‘Raid Bani Gala and you will know where the cipher copy went’: Maryam Nawaz

    ‘Raid Bani Gala and you will know where the cipher copy went’: Maryam Nawaz

    Finance Minister Ishaq Dar Saturday revealed that Principal Secretary Azam Khan has admitted that he gave the diplomatic cipher to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan — which had been “stolen” from the records of the Prime Minister’s House.

    Dar said it was now “established” through the audio leaks that the former Opposition — now the government — was not responsible for any conspiracy, but rather the PTI was. “We will be failing in national duty and oath if we don’t take appropriate action,” he added.

    The finance minister said the matter was not something that could be ignored, adding that “whoever did this is not pardonable”.

    “We will be betraying the Constitution if we don’t take it to the logical conclusion. So the decision is we will take the matter forward in light of the law and Constitution,” he stressed.

    Maintaining that Imran Khan was solely responsible for the travesty he said that if we do not take action to bring this matter to its logical conclusion, then it would be another breach of the Constitution.

    He further revealed that the cabinet has inspected all aspects in this regard in detail. “The minutes that were created regarding the diplomatic cipher are present; however, the original document is missing,” Dar added.

    “This proves that conspiracy was not hatched by the incumbent coalition government instead the PTI was behind this,” he said, adding that a meeting of the National Security Committee has also been held in this regard.

    Playing the purported audio leak of the former prime minister, Dar said: “We will betray our constitution if we do not take it to its logical end.

    “The mess created in four years could not be cleaned in four to five months; however, our efforts will be concentrated on stopping the destruction, and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s team is working to provide relief to the masses,” he concluded.

    In Lahore, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Maryam Nawaz said: “You heard that the cipher went missing from Prime Minister House. I think there should be a raid on Bani Gala from where you will find out where the cipher copy went and what the real minutes, letter, and communique were,” she stated in a press conference.

    “Since day one I knew that he [Khan] was lying as he is the biggest liar of this century,” she claimed, adding that this wasn’t just conspiracy but this was also “tampering”.

    Accusing the former prime minister of forging sensitive official documents, she said that Khan conspired against the foreign policy of Pakistan.

    “PM Shehbaz told me that no country is ready to write a letter to Pakistan because of this fitna Khan [Imran Khan],” Maryam said, adding that other countries are now afraid of communicating with Pakistan.

    The PML-N vice president further added that the audio leaks are enough to indict Khan for his wrongdoings.

    “You can look at Supreme Court’s verdict, Khan even violated the order of the apex court while leaving his office,” she mentioned, adding that the highest court of the country has given its ruling against the former premier.

    “The nation has been held hostage by this evil mind for the last four years,” she asserted.

    Meanwhile, Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah said the issue would be raised in parliament and expressed the hope that the body would decide to file an Article 6 reference against Imran.

  • ‘Imran Khan aur is ka coach shamil hain’, Maryam Nawaz claims that she knows who is behind audio leaks

    ‘Imran Khan aur is ka coach shamil hain’, Maryam Nawaz claims that she knows who is behind audio leaks

    After getting acquitted by Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Thursday, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Vice President Maryam Nawaz accepted that four recent audio leaks were hers.

    While speaking outside the court, Maryam claimed that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan and his “coach” were behind these audio leaks.

    “I know who is doing all of this. Yeh Imran Khan aur is ka coach shamil ha” (Both Imran Khan and his coach are involved), she said.

    In response to a question, Maryam said a nexus comprising “Imran, his coach and a couple of TV channels” were behind the audio leaks.

    Reaction to her audio leaks:

    She also reacted to the leaks in which an unknown person and her uncle [Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif] could be heard talking about purchasing machinery for her son-in-law’s plant from India. She claimed that “Imran Khan should be ashamed because Raheel purchased the first half of machinery during his tenure as PM”.

    According to her, “Raheel submitted an application to purchase the second half of machinery but PM Shehbaz told him that now Pakistan has stopped importing things from India”. She added after that the “Matter was closed then”.

    Commenting on the audio in which she asked PM Shehbaz to discontinue the PTI’s Sehat Card initiative, Maryam insisted that the health project was launched by PML-N supremo Nawaz.

    “I asked the PM to own the programme launched by his party and I never said to discontinue the initiative,” she said.

    ‘Imran Khan did forgery in PM Office’: Maryam Nawaz

    On Imran Khan’s audio leaks, Maryam Nawaz said, “Imran thinks of Pakistan as Oval Ground and Qadaffi Stadium. He used to tamper then as a cricketer, now he is passing instructions that do tampering with minutes of the meeting.”

    In the audio leak, which was released on Wednesday, Khan discusses how to frame the narrative around the alleged conspiracy that resulted in the ouster of his government. He tells his then principal secretary Azam Khan: ‘Iss par hi khelna hai’, (let’s play with it) without mentioning the name of the United States and they discuss how to form a team on the issue.

    Maryam Nawaz also took a jibe at former First Lady Bushra Bibi, saying that “She told Ex Focal Person Digital Media to former PM, Arslan Khalid, to make a statement against Khan’s opponents and run a campaign to prove them, traitors, while her husband who was in power at the time did forgery in PM Office.”

    She also demanded that a “high-powered” joint investigation team (JIT) — consisting of government ministers, Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and Intelligence Bureau (IB) officials and law ministry representatives — be formed to probe the alleged audio leak of Imran Khan and Azam.

    “I believe the facts that have emerged should lead to his [Imran’s] arrest and he must be jailed straightaway,” she said.

    ‘NAB made a video of me while I was in night suit’: Maryam Nawaz

    Moreover, she said when NAB arrested her in Karachi, a person made a video of her without consent while she was in her night suit.

    “If they release this video, nothing can be more shameless and cheap”, she added.

    She also said, “If the video releases, people will see how they treated me in jail”.

    On Thursday, IHC acquitted Maryam Nawaz and her husband Captain (retd) Safdar in the Avenfield reference, nullifying the conviction handed to them in 2018 by an accountability court.

  • ‘A dark day’: PTI reacts to Maryam Nawaz’s acquittal

    ‘A dark day’: PTI reacts to Maryam Nawaz’s acquittal

    Following the verdict of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) acquitting Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Vice President Maryam Nawaz on Thursday (today), Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders have said that today is, “Another dark day in the history of Pakistan”.

    PTI Senior Vice President Fawad Chaudhry took to Twitter to say that “The country’s institutions have lost the trust of the public”.

    “Beyond any doubt, it is another dark day in the history of Pakistan”, he added.

    Another PTI leader and former Energy Minister Hammad Azhar claimed that “PML-N itself seems to be a bit embarrassed after today’s ruling”.

    In a tweet, PTI Secretary-General Asad Umar made a claim that “Imran Khan’s government was removed so that imported government leaders could get their cases dismissed”.

    The former ruling party leader Babar Awan said, “Jitna bara daku, itni bari kursi“. (The bigger the thief, the bigger the chair). He added, “The jail department would teach lessons about the Sharif family to prisoners so that they can get NRO II as well.”

    The verdict:

    The Islamabad High Court (IHC) acquitted Maryam Nawaz and her husband Captain (retd) Safdar in the Avenfield reference, nullifying the conviction handed to them in 2018 by an accountability court.

    After the victory, Maryam said that she was thankful to Allah for making Nawaz and herself proud today. She also took a jibe at PTI Chairman Imran Khan, telling him that he is a “helpless” person now and whether or not he decides to answer for his deeds, history will ensure that he answers for it.

  • Maryam Nawaz, Capt Safdar acquitted in Avenfield case

    Maryam Nawaz, Capt Safdar acquitted in Avenfield case

    The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Thursday acquitted Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Vice President Maryam Nawaz and her husband Captain (retd) Safdar in the Avenfield reference, nullifying the conviction handed to them in 2018 by an accountability court.

    A two-member bench, comprising of Justice Aamer Farooq and Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani, presided over today’s hearing during which the court heard arguments from both sides.

    Former Prime Minister (PM) Nawaz Sharif was handed 10 years as jail time for owning assets beyond known income and one year for not cooperating with the National Accountability Bureau (NAB). Meanwhile, Maryam was given 7 years for abetment after she was found “Instrumental in concealment of the properties of her father” and one year for non-cooperation with the bureau.

    Safdar was given one year jail time — for not cooperating with NAB, and aiding and abetting Nawaz and Maryam.

    Congratulating Maryam and Capt Safdar, PM Shehbaz tweeted, “The edifice of lies, slander & character assassination has come crumbling down today.”

    “Maryam Nawaz’s acquittal in the Avenfield Reference is a slap in the face of so-called accountability system that was employed to target Sharif family,” tweeted the PM.

    Maryam also received a phone call from her father, she congratulated him for the win.

    Later, talking to the media, Maryam said that she was thankful to Allah for making Nawaz and her proud today.

    Maryam asked PTI Chairman Imran Khan what would he do now as he has been proven “a liar” and “a conspirator”, while Nawaz has come out on top.

    Maryam told Khan that he is a “helpless” person now and whether or not he decides to answer for his deeds, history will ensure that you answer for it.

    In response to a question that the case was registered against her before PTI came into power and that some other powers were behind it, Maryam said: “Who was the beneficiary of all this? Had Nawaz remained here, then even in three lifetimes, Imran could not have come into power.”

  • ‘Agar PM house ko secure karna hai, toh mobile phones ko band karna hoga’: Khurram Dastgir

    ‘Agar PM house ko secure karna hai, toh mobile phones ko band karna hoga’: Khurram Dastgir

    Federal Minister for Power Khurram Dastgir Khan has said that “Agar PM house ko secure karna hai, toh mobile phones ko band karna hoga.” (If one wants to secure the Prime Minister’s (PM) house, the use of mobile phones should not be permitted within the premises.)

    The minister’s remarks came after several audio leaks allegedly of PM Shehbaz Sharif have surfaced on the internet.

    Dastagir was of the view that “These security necessities are important as high-level talks take place at the PM office”, adding that that’s why “we need to secure it”.

    About his fellow party member Senator Ishaq Dar, Dastgir said, “Dar has remained finance minister twice in emergency situations. We hope that nation will benefit from his vast experience.”

    Dar took oath as a senator today (Tuesday) and will take over the finance ministry tomorrow.

    After the audio leaks surfaced online, the federal government constituted a Joint Investigation Team (JIT) to investigate the data hack.

    An investigation has been initiated to probe the leak from the PM House, with one member each in the JIT to be included from the country’s intelligence agencies.

    The premier also called a meeting of the National Security Committee (NSC) on Wednesday, September 27, to discuss the matter.

    On Saturday, September 24, alleged audios of PM Shehbaz and other Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leaders, including some federal ministers and Vice-President PML-N Maryam Nawaz, appeared online.