Shahid Khaqan Abbasi will not contest general election
Pakistan
Says prevailing system is flawed, unable to run affairs of the state
ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – Former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi on Tuesday announced he would not take part in the upcoming general elections going to be held in February 2024.
Speaking to media persons outside an accountability court of Islamabad, Abbasi said he was pursuing the so-called cases instituted by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) against him. The senior politician said it was the fifth year that he was facing NAB cases.
He said earlier a case was framed against him and it was eventually closed. The present one also would be closed, he added.
Abbasi said he demanded many times before that cameras should be installed in NAB courts so that people could know about proceedings of the case. He was of the view that the prevailing system was flawed and unable to run affairs of the state.
"Who will be held accountable for the prevailing injustice and tyranny in the country?" he asked. The former prime minister said neither Nawaz Sharif contacted him nor was it needed. He said the same level playing field was in place now which the PTI had when it got power.
He avoided questions pertaining to forming a new party or quitting the PML-N, and said he would not take part in elections.
Earlier, NAB court judge Muhammad Bashir conducted hearing of the LNG reference against Abbasi. The counsel for the former prime minister appeared before the judge.
During proceedings, Abbasi's counsel prayed to court that an intra-court appeal was being heard by the Supreme Court and till apex court's decision, further proceedings in the case should be deferred.
The court adjourned hearing of the case until Feb 13.
