LAHORE: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N)’s chief organiser and senior-vice president Maryam Nawaz Sharif has said that she still feels dejected that Shahbaz Sharif’s convoy failed to reach the Lahore airport when she returned home with her father Nawaz Sharif in July 2018 before they were arrested.
In an exclusive interview with Wenews, Maryam Nawaz said that “that was the time when people had come out in droves in response to the “respect the vote” slogan, but what happened on that day did not go well.”
“I don’t know why, but it hasn’t been a good thing, and I still have it in my heart and I think it shouldn’t have happened,” she said.
It may be recalled that on July 13, 2018, Nawaz Sharif and Maryam Nawaz were arrested soon after they returned home from London in the Avenfield reference on the orders of the accountability court. On that day, the PML-N had taken out a big rally in Lahore under the leadership of Shahbaz Sharif, which was to reach the Lahore international airport but the convoy could not reach its destination till the arrest of the father and daughter duo.
‘NAB chairman should get time’
When asked about her role in the appointment of new NAB chairman Lt-Gen (retd) Nazir Ahmed, she said since she does not hold any official position, she has nothing to do with the appointment. She, however, said that the new NAB chairman should be given an opportunity to “build his prestige and reputation.”
“I don’t want to bracket anyone until their performance comes out. I don’t want to criticise anyone just because they belong to a particular class or institution. There are also good people among them. Like political parties, there are good people and bad people in every institution. I believe that every newcomer should get a chance to strengthen himself and his/her reputation. It is not appropriate to criticise anybody before that happens.”
How would relations be with establishment after becoming prime minister?
When asked how would her relations be with the establishment after she becomes the prime minister, Maryam Nawaz said that as a Pakistani, “she does not want to target any institution, including the establishment and the army.” She said that “the institution of the army is full of patriotic people. ”
“I have visited the Line of Control in Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan and I have seen the soldiers and their emotions there. That was the time when we were campaigning for the “respect the vote” drive and we were under pressure from the establishment of that time. But even then, I myself went ahead and greeted those who were standing at the border in uniform. I also went to the houses of some of the martyrs and met their children,” she said.
The PML-N leader said that she highly regared the patriotism of the Pakistan army. “At that time, when I had conversations with the soldiers, they used to greet me and say that they listen to and appreciate my speeches. Such people exist in the institution of the army.”
Maryam Nawaz said that there should be cooperation between the government and institutions and it was very important. “No government can run its affairs or the system of the country without the cooperation of its institutions,” she said adding that awareness was coming among the people that every institution has to work within its constitutional limits. Since we have moved in that direction, I think nothing can be more ideal than that.
“You do your job, the government should do its work, those who are elected representatives should be given full respect, they should be delegated full power so that they can show performance to their people and elections should be held for five years and the decision should be left to the people,” she said adding that destabilising any elected government based on personal likes and dislikes, conspiring against it, which happened from 2013 to 2022, must stop.
‘Missing persons’ affair must end’
Responding to a question about the fulfillment of the promises she made in meetings with the families of missing persons of Balochistan, she said that “these incidents have petered out over time to a large extent, but this affair should be rooted out.
“I was personally in touch with a few people I met in Quetta. They were sisters and daughters of those who had gone missing. I was in touch with them. Some of them called me and said that some people had reached home after long years of disappearance and I was delighted to know this. But I think this thing has to be rooted out. If there is a problem or someone is involved in any illegal activity, then their families should also be informed,” she said.
‘Imran Khan’s narrative is based on lies’
When asked whether Imran Khan’s narrative has become very popular and ingrained in the mind of people and whether the PML-N was afraid of his popularity in Punjab, Maryam Nawaz said that if a narrative is based on lies, it does not take long for such a narrative to fizzle out.
“You saw what happened to the narrative that started with the cipher? (Imran Khan claimed) that America toppled our government and installed an imported government. He claimed that America conspired against us. Donald Lu (US diplomat) did it; the cipher arrived. Now you see where that narrative is? He blew up the narrative himself.” she said, adding that the proponent of the narrative apologised to the United States. “He not only apologised, but also said that America did not conspire against them.”
She said that he (Imran Khan) dissolved the National Assembly on that narrative of the American conspiracy. It’s not a small thing. Now not only have they taken a U-turn on the narrative but have also fallen at their (US) feet. She said that Americans will also be thinking about what kind of person Imran Khan is or what kind of a country Pakistan is because whatever happens, you represent Pakistan, and you are a Pakistani citizen.”
The PML-N leader said that the PML-N was the only party in the fray to prepare for the elections. “No other party has prepared for the election yet. The rest of the parties are yet to take off their plaster.” She said that she has covered 70 per cent of Punjab as part of her election campaigning and she goes everywhere to meet her members of the provincial and national assembly and ticket holders.
“I am standing in public. Why would someone do this exercise if someone is running away from elections? We know that elections will be held today, tomorrow, in April, May, June, or in November.” She said, “2023 is the year of elections and the PML-N does not want to come to power as selected but as an elected party, and by the grace of Allah, we will send those who had come through selection, to where they had come from.”
‘Imran Khan responsible for inflation’
On the question of inflation, Maryam Nawaz said that inflation and Imran Khan were synonymous. “If you look at the prices from 2013 to 2018, then you will understand everything. Just compare the government of the incompetent person with that of the PML-N, which has to bear the brunt of inflation now.
‘Satisfied with Ishaq Dar’s performance’
Maryam Nawaz said that since the arrival of Ishaq Dar, the price of petrol has come down to three times; although it was very low, there was a decrease, as they had been steadily increasing over the years.
“Those who used to say that we have not been elected to inquire the rates of potatoes, onions and tomatoes only woke up to hear the dollar rate from TV channels. We are not people steeped in this kind of negligence. Ishaq Dar remains constantly worried that he has to give relief to the people. A person who thinks ten times before raising prices (of petroleum products) should not be criticized.
She said, “but the deal this (Imran Khan) has struck with the IMF has tied our hands.”
Maryam Nawaz said that the PML-N was under tremendous pressure to deliver to the people because economic performance is the hallmark of the PML-N.”
“Whenever the PML-N came to power, it focused on economic improvement. Pakistan is our country, and someone had to take responsibility and the PML-N went ahead. I am very optimistic that things will improve.”
‘Dawn Leaks acknowledgment of PML-N’s social media power’
Maryam Nawaz said that Dawn Leaks was an acknowledgment of the power of the PML-N’s social media team. “It was negatively highlighted, and there was a conspiracy and agenda behind it, but in reality, it was an acknowledgment of the capabilities of the PML-N’s social media team. Attempts were made to eliminate it (PML-N), but things are not always the same. Today, PML-N’s social media is active at every province and every district level across the country, she said.
“Wherever I go, I meet the social media team separately, encourage them and arrange workshops. Our social media team is extremely dynamic and an asset to the party. We have also created a digital wing of the PML-N. However, our real strength is the voice of truth and truth. This is not a cipher narrative. This is not “jail bharo or beil bharo” contradiction. The PML-N has the truth to speak, and the truth has its power.”
