Abbasi calls upon judiciary to 'right the wrongs' done to Nawaz
Former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi on Sunday said the judiciary should review its past decisions, urging it "rectify the injustices" done to former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, whose return to Pakistan is expected soon.
Responding to a reporter's question during a joint press conference, Abbasi said: "The injustices done to Mian Nawaz Sharif sahab - we talk about Mian Nawaz Sharif returning to the country but we should also rectify those injustices and those injustices are very evident."
The PML-N leader has been holding a series of non-partisan talks along with other renowned political 'mavericks' - such as former finance minister Miftah Ismail and former senator Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar - on the current economic and political issues in the country.
Abbasi, Ismail and Khokhar addressed an event - titled "National Dialogue on Re-imagining Pakistan" along with other leaders, including former Balochistan chief minister Aslam Raisani, former federal minister Khawaja
Muhammad Hoti, Farhatullah Babar and Lashkari Raisani.
The speakers blamed all stakeholders including political parties, the military establishment and the judiciary - for the problems the masses were facing and urged them to find a way out of the prevalent political and economic impasse in light of the Constitution instead of focusing on a power struggle.
During the press conference today - jointly held by him, Ismail, Raisani and Khokar Abbasi said: "I always say that it is the judiciary's job to review the decisions that have had [adverse] effects on Pakistan - immense ones.
"I do not want to talk about those issues […] Whatever effect the judiciary's decisions and actions have had in running this country, they have played a major role in the matters that plague the country today." At another point during the talk, he said that the speakers had not criticised anyone but themselves, adding: "We all are responsible [for the current situation], including politicians, military officials, judges [and] the media. […] We are not here to blame anyone."
Responding to another question, he asserted: "There have been martial laws for a long time in our country. There has also been the military's interference in politics [and] has been present - even currently."
He went on to say: "There is a need to end it (military's interference) and bring it within Constitutional boundaries. This in particular will give you the solution to the issues. Is it possible within a day? Only time will tell."
Better late than never: Ismail on IMF talks Meanwhile, Ismail welcomed the government's decision to accept all the demands of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to revive the loan programme.
Responding to a reporter's question, he said: "I think that the decisions not made by the government in the past four months have caused damage to the economy. However, I am now quite glad that the government has made the decision to sit and talk to the IMF.
"I welcome this decision of the government, though they incurred a loss of four months [and] of money. However, it is a good thing - better late than never. "I hope that they will move towards finding a solution to the country's financial issues," the former finance minister added.