ISLAMABAD: Federal government on Sunday announced that it would file an appeal challenging the Lahore High Court (LHC) decision giving one-time permission to PML-N President Shahbaz Sharif to go abroad for medical treatment.
Addressing a press conference along with Shahzad Akbar, Fawad Chaudhry argued that letting Shehbaz Sharif travel abroad will mean special treatment for him while other prisoners languish in Pakistani jails.
He added that granting permission to Opposition Leader Shehbaz Sharif will give an impression that influential people could make a mockery of the justice system.
The minister stressed that the government has no personal vendetta against the Sharif family and it is only fighting against the organized corruption committed in 20 years during the reign of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz and the Pakistan People s Party.
He said Punjab health minister Yasmin Rashid was more ill than Shahbaz and Nawaz Sharif, however, she is getting treatment in Pakistan. “Should both the Sharif brothers not also get treatment in Pakistan?” he asked and further urged their children to return to the country and face cases against them.
Speaking during the presser, PM’s aide on Accountability Shahzad Akbar said that the government would file an appeal against the LHC decision and will also present its case before the court regarding stopping PML-N President Shahbaz Sharif from going abroad.
He said that the PML-N leaders secured a decision in favour of Shahbaz Sharif over his name’s inclusion in the blacklist, however, when they reached the airport with an order on the blacklist, it emerged that his name was on the PNI list.
“We have volume 55 which carries evidence against Shahbaz and trial will begin in light of it after Eid,” he said adding that if Shahbaz Sharif is allowed to leave then the trial of other co-accused would also be affected.
He said that they respect the court orders and had implemented them, however, they also have the right to appeal against the decision.
Castigating PML-N leadership, Akbar said they were misleading the people that Shehbaz’s corruption has not proved and hoped that the Sharifs would have to answer their large scale plundering.
In a corruption case against Shehbaz, some 13 witnesses have so far testified against him from out of a total of 100 witnesses. The remaining will also testify subsequently, PM aide said.
