Maryam claims, Gen Faiz and Justice Saqib Nisar ‘using pawns’ to protect Imran.

The senior vice president of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Maryam Nawaz, has made some shocking allegations about former Pakistani Chief Justice Justice (retd) Saqib Nisar and former spymaster Gen (retd) Faiz Hameed. She claims that they continue to back Imran Khan, the leader of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), “via their pawns.”

Speaking to a gathering of party workers in Sahiwal on Monday, Maryam claimed that Imran Khan is still in charge while seated in Chakwal and is still being protected by Faiz Hameed’s relics. She further said that former CJP Nisar helped Imran by using his “henchmen.”

The audio clip of retired judge Arshad Malik, who jailed former prime minister Nawaz Sharif in the assets beyond means case, was also brought up by Maryam. Judge Malik purportedly admitted in the audio footage that he forced himself to convict Nawaz Sharif. This, according to Maryam, is proof that the PML-N was the target of the previous PTI government’s manipulation of the judiciary.

In her speech, Maryam reportedly addressed criticism that the incumbent PDM is attempting to postpone the election out of concern that it will lose due to the ongoing economic crisis and skyrocketing inflation. Elections will be held this year, but only when the scales of justice have been balanced, she explained.

The steadfast PML-N member claimed that former PM Nawaz, who the Supreme Court declared ineligible for life in the Panama Papers case, would be cleared of “false allegations” prior to the elections.

“We are not afraid of elections. In fact we are on ground running campaign for elections and PML-N will win polls with huge majority,” she added. “Elections will be held but first justice will be done. All injustices done to Nawaz Sharif will be compensated before elections.”

Asserting that “Panama case proceedings held on a daily basis while procedures of Imran’s cases are progressing at a snail’s pace,” Maryam also charged the judiciary with having double standards.

Maryam urged the legal system to prosecute Imran in the Toshakhana (gift depository) affair. “‘Watch thief’ must answer for his actions. He is the top thief in Pakistan and did not even spare watches, she continued. Maryam claimed that Imran’s supporters knew he was “incompetent and characterless” before they put him un office.

“Out of hatred for Nawaz Sharif, you ruined Pakistan. You had the opportunity to exact revenge on Nawaz Sharif, but instead you wrecked people’s livelihoods and made their lives miserable.

The leader of the ruling party claimed that by removing Imran from office and acquiescing to the strict IMF requirements, PML-N prevented the country from experiencing an economic disaster similar to that in Sri Lanka (IMF). If we had broken the terms of the IMF deal like Imran Khan, the nation would have gone into default.