Lahore: Maryam Nawaz, the senior vice president of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), has come down hard on former prime minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan, for evading arrest, saying he is “hiding under his bed”.
Speaking on Tuesday at the PML-N’sorganizationalconvention in Sheikhupura, Maryam said that while thieves and other criminals fear being apprehended, leaders do not. She continued by equating Imran Khan with her father, former prime minister Nawaz Sharif. Maryam claimed that while Imran Khan is hiding under his bed, Nawaz Sharif did not flee during difficult times and even appeared in court for his own arrest.
She advised Imran to show some courage and present himself before the judiciary by courting his arrest.
Maryam also criticized Imran Khan for his treatment of political workers, citing the example of Zille Shah, a PTI worker who was killed in Lahore last week. She accused Imran of doing politics on Zille Shah’s death and putting other people’s children on the line to take the police’s beating.
She emphasised that the PML-N is not just competing in the upcoming election but is entering the field to win it.
The PML-N stalwart reiterated that Imran Khan must face accountability before the general election. She criticised the unequal treatment of Nawaz Sharif and Imran Khan, stating that Nawaz Sharif has faced hundreds of court appearances despite being innocent, while Imran Khan is trying to walk free despite “being a criminal”.
Maryam also responded to criticism from former chief justice Saqib Nisar, who accused her of misbehaving, stressing that she was trained by Nawaz Sharif and Kulsoom Nawaz and that she was only showing people the mirror.
PML-N leaders including Rana Sanaullah, Parvaiz Rasheed, Talal Chaudhry, Uzma Bukhari, and Sania Ashiq also attended the event.
The PML-N supporters applauded Maryam’s speech and chanted slogans in support of the party.
Overall, Maryam’s speech was a strong rebuke of Imran Khan and a rallying cry for the PML-N ahead of the upcoming election. The speech highlighted the differences between Nawaz Sharif and Imran Khan and emphasised the PML-N’s commitment to winning the election.
