ISLAMABAD: Opening new Pandora box, former Prime Minister Mian Nawaz Sharif on Wednesday said he was ousted from public office to save former military dictator Pervez Musharraf.
“As I stood firm that the dictator should be punished. I refused to end cases against Musharraf. The real objective to remove me as prime minister was to save Musharraf,” Nawaz said while addressing a press conference at Punjab House in Islamabad.
“The purpose of the cases was to get me out of PM House and stop the treason case against Musharraf,” he claimed.
“Challenges and pressure mounted on me after the Musharraf treason case,” Nawaz continued while addressing the presser.
The three-time premier further said that former president Asif Ali Zardari conveyed a message to endorse Musharraf’s second martial law. “But I refused to endorse it,” Nawaz maintained.
Nawaz lamented, “It is not easy to bring a dictator to justice and no law can place a dictator in handcuffs.”
Stating that “empty cases” have been filed against him following Panama Papers, the former premier said, “When a minus-one formula is decided then an excuse such as iqama is enough.”
Speaking about the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf and Pakistan Awami Tehreek’s 2014 sit-in against his government, Nawaz said, “The purpose of the 2014 sit-in was to pressurise me.”
“Planners of the sit-in thought I would come under pressure,” he further said adding that the events of the sit-in are in front of the people.
He continued, “I have never been allowed to fulfill a constitutional term.”
“I have said this before and will say it again, decisions should be taken by the people.”
The former premier added, “I have great respect for the armed forces of Pakistan.”
He said PML(N) Government adopted an effective strategy to eliminate terrorism and bring FATA to the national mainstream.
Nawaz Sharif said he tried to pursue a foreign policy that reflected national interests.
Nawaz Sharif said he increased defence budget and made defence of the country invincible by going for nuclear explosion in 1998 despite international pressure and temptations.
Mian Nawaz Sharif said armed forces rendered services and sacrifices for the country and he has all respect for them.
He said the fate-changing project of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor was launched by PML(N) Government, which will immensely benefit the country.
The former Prime Minister asserted that he was disqualified on baseless allegations. He said his name was not there in Panama Papers.
