Nawaz Sharif regrets Pakistan PMs being unable to complete terms; slams 'state over state'

Pakistan's former Prime Minister and w a 'proclaimed offender' Nawaz Sharif on Sunday regretted that ne of country's elected premiers have been able to complete ir terms. Sharif, 70, Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) supremo, has been living in London since vember last year after Lahore High Court granted him permission to go abroad for four weeks for treatment.

'Is this Quaid-i-Azam's Pakistan?'

Speaking at PML-N's social media convention, he said that "again and again, constitution was violated, those who created country were termed traitors, popular leaders were jailed and leaders were made out to be robbers." Sharif said that votes of public had been "stolen", accusing government led by Prime Minister Imran Khan of indulging in rigging in 2018 elections, Dawn news reported.

"Until w, ne of (elected) Prime Ministers have been allowed to complete ir constitutional term. Every few years, democracy is attacked and martial law is imposed," Sharif was quoted as saying in report. "Tell me, hand on your heart, is this Quaid-i-Azam's Pakistan?" he asked.

Sharif, while referring to criticism over his speeches critical of military, said if it was "treason to expose those who have formed a state above a state".

READ | Farmers' protest: Agriculture Min Narendra Tomar chairs key meet ahead of talks on Dec 9

READ | Sunny Deol urges everyone to 't come between farmers and Centre' amid agitation

"se undemocratic forces have choked freedom of expression in country, choked poor and unemployment, have crushed m with inflation se are painful things but all y are worried about is how to stop Nawaz Sharif, he added.

Sharif, living in London since vember last year after he was allowed by courts and government to go re for a period of eight weeks for medical treatment, has accused army chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa and spy ncy ISI head Lt Gen Faiz Hameed for interfering in elections of 2018 and installing Imran Khan's "puppet government".

He was sentenced in absentia to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment by an anti-graft court in one of three corruption cases against him in Panama Papers scandal in July 2018. Sharif resigned as Pakistan Prime Minister in 2017 after Supreme Court disqualified him from holding public office and ruled that graft cases be filed against beleaguered leader and his children over Panama Papers scandal.

READ | 'Republic Is Unbreakable': Arnab asserts his pride in Ghanshyam on AVP's release from jail

READ | Nadda attributes POTUS Trump's defeat to COVID 'mismanment'; hails PM Modi's leadership

(With PTI inputs)