"Justice delayed is justice denied"; Maryam lashes out at NAB 

Islamabad: Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) Vice-President Maryam Nawaz Sharif Thursday lashed out at National Accountability Bureau (NAB), saying the anti-graft watchdog have no evidence against her as the appeals are pending for almost a year.

She was talking to the media persons outside the Islamabad High Court (IHC) after the hearing on the appeals filed by her and her husband Captain (R) Safdar in the Avenfield reference.  

Justice Amir Farooq and Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani of Islamabad High Court conducted the hearing. 

During the proceedings, the Justice Kayani said that today is the 26th hearing of this appeal and the case will end only when the arguments of the case are started.

However, the IHC has adjourned the hearing of the appeal of Maryam Nawaz and Captain (retd) Safdar till June 2. 

The PML-N leader stated that NAB was seeking hearing of the case on daily-basis when it was “marionetted by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government” but “now, it is only dragging it”.  

Constant delay tactics are being used, she stressed.

She claimed that if NAB had evidence, 10 months would have been sufficient to present it to the judges. 

Her lawyer, Irfan Qadir Advocate, stated that court has sought reply from NAB which was constantly taking time to answer today. 

“The court has been requested that the arguments are almost complete, hence, no further delay should be allowed,” he added.

He further added, in order to see that there was no evidence in this case, the court would still have to review the record thoroughly. 

It is pertinent to mention here that NAB re-hired the services of Barrister Usman G. Rashid on the appeal of Maryam Nawaz and re-appointed him as the head of NAB prosecution team on field appeals. 

Maryam, while answering a question regarding Defence Minister Khawaja Asif's comments, wherein he stated that former Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Chief Lt Gen Faiz Hameed's name could be considered for the new army chief, stated: “The army chief should be a person who had a flawless reputation, free from any criticism or doubts”.

"The nation looks at the army for the unity and security of Pakistan,” she said, adding that it was a "good thing" that the armed forced had decided to stay away from politics and limit itself to its constitutional role. 

While referring to early elections, Maryam stated that the “only solution to the prevailing crisis is the general elections”. 

Taking a jibe at Imran Khan, the PML-N vice president stated that, “He doesn't have feet of his own and needs support, hence, he (Imran Khan) drags institutions into politics and make them controversial”. 

Pointing out the rising inflation in country, she said that everyone knows that the ousted Imran Khan is to be blamed for this destruction. 

"When you bring a cricket player into power, he is destined to do this,” she said, adding that Khan doesn't even know what an economy is.  

She further added, the PTI chairman ruined Pakistan's ties with other countries, subsequently, we will have to spend years to rectify it.

She further accused the PTI chairman of using his "conspiracy lies" to hide his failures.