PML-N voices fury over Sarfaraz Bugti’s remarks on Nawaz Sharif’s arrest upon return
ISLAMABAD, Sep 26 (SABAH): Former interior minister and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Punjab President Rana Sanaullah Khan on Tuesday hit back at incumbent caretaker security czar Senator Mir Sarfraz Ahmed Khan Bugti for saying that party supremo Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif would be arrested on his return if he was not granted bail.
Nawaz Sharif, who stepped down as prime minister in 2017 after the Supreme Court disqualified him for life for not declaring receivable salary, was granted permission to go abroad for medical treatment in November 2019 after a court suspended his sentence in a corruption case. The former premier, who has been living in London since then, has recently announced his return to the country on October 21 this year.
Speaking to a local TV channel, the caretaker interior minister said if Nawaz Sharif was not granted bail then the authorities would arrest the former PM from the airport.
Sarfaraz Bugti cited Nawaz Sharif’s 2018 return to the country when he along with his daughter Maryam Nawaz Sharif was arrested at Lahore airport as the duo returned from London.
“I don’t think that he does not want to be arrested as in the past, he, along with his daughter, returned to the country despite knowing that they would be arrested..,” the interior minister remarked.
Reacting to the Bugti’s remarks, Rana Sanaullah in a statement issued on twitter on Tuesday said the minister crossed his limits by making such a statement. “Sarfraz Bugti should see the fate of former interior minister Sheikh Rashid before giving such remarks,” the PML-N leader said.
Rana Sanaullah said people and the country bore the brunt of the conspiracy allegedly hatched against Nawaz Sharif to oust him from power.
“Don’t try to elevate your political stature by making statements about Nawaz Sharif,” Rana Sanaullah said asking Bugti to stop worrying about Nawaz and concentrate on his duties.
Rana Sanaullah said the people would decide where Nawaz Sharif will go from the airport on October 21 and not the interior minister.
Meanwhile, PML-N Information Secretary and former minister for information and broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzeb also warned the interior minister against making such statements.
“Mr Sarfraz Bugti, speak according to your political stature. Where Nawaz Sharif has to go from the airport is neither your problem nor your decision,” she added.
Meanwhile after drawing the ire of the PML-N leaders, Sarfraz Bugti issued a statement clarifying that his remarks were taken out of the context. “My statement was given a political colour out of context. The caretaker government has no political agenda,” Bugti was quoted as saying in the statement.
He also welcomed the Nawaz’s return to the country saying that a “large number of people of Pakistan are preparing to welcome Nawaz Sharif”. He said Nawaz will be treated according to law on his return home.
He emphasized the caretaker government has no political agenda. He said it is welcoming that Nawaz Sharif wants to return to Pakistan’s politics. The Interior Minister said Nawaz Sharif will be treated according to law on his return home.
Sarfraz Bugti emphasized the importance of avoiding rumors and assumptions and urged everyone to examine issues through the lens of reality. The Interior Minister reiterated the Caretaker Government will act according to its mandate. He said that Nawaz Sharif is the former prime minister and his matters are pending with the courts and the interior ministry has nothing to do with him.