ISLAMABAD: Launching a bitter diatribe against the judiciary, former prime minister Nawaz Sharif on Monday said there is no democracy in the country, but the worst form of dictatorship.
Speaking to the media in the federal capital after appearance before the accountability court, the PML-N Qauid said whatever is happening in the country is “no less than judicial martial law”.
“Every effort is being made to punish me. I have never seen such restrictions being imposed on media and freedom of speech even during martial law,” he said.
In a veiled criticism of a verdict of the Lahore High Court (LHC) that directed the Pemra to stop TV channels from airing anti-judiciary remarks, Sharif asked what will they get by banning his speech.
“This country belongs to 220 million people, not to a person. Silencing millions of people is unacceptable at any cost,” the PML-N supreme leader said.
Every next day, he added, decisions are handed down that are not only illogical but also beyond comprehension.
Referring to Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar’s visits of hospitals, he said he should also check the rates of potatoes and tomatoes as well as prices of medicine. He should also shift his focus on how many cases are pending in subordinate courts, he added.
He said cases have not been decided for the past 20 years, adding that the chief justice should also visit the house of orphans whose cases have been pending.
“It is not his job to make the government functionaries stand in courts to make mockery of them,” he added.
