Prime Minister Imran Khan on Friday expressed surprise over media reports that former prime minister Nawaz Sharif is returning home as his conviction could be withdrawn, saying “how can a convicted person become prime minister of the country for a fourth time?”, according to a news outlet.
The premier said it is ironic that even “convicted criminals” are harbouring dreams of becoming prime minister of the country for the fourth time, noting that attempts are being made to abolish Nawaz’s sentence.
Talking to the news outlet, Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Chaudhry Fawad Husain said that the premier’s remarks came while discussing the decreasing morals of the society against corruption.
He, while referring to the Nawaz’s sentence from the top court, said that PM Imran deplored that due to such people, acceptability of corruption has increased in the society to the extent that the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) is now saying that it wants to help end disqualification of Sharif.
“If that is to happen, then all those in jails should be released,” Fawad quoted the premier as saying. He said the premier wondered what is the fault of others facing jail terms when leniency has to be shown to such “corrupt people”.
According to the news outlet, the premier has tasked the party spokespersons to highlight the corruption and incompetence of the previous periods.
On the other hand, Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Asad Umar, while talking to a private news channel, said Nawaz Sharif was declared guilty and disqualified for whole life from the Supreme Court so how he could participate in the country’s politics.
