Shahid Khaqan Abbasi says won’t contest election

ISLAMABAD:  Former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi has said he won’t contest the election. In a media interaction in Islamabad, Shahid Khaqan, a stalwart of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), ducked questions with regard to forming a new political party or quitting the PML-N.

Responding to a question, the estranged PML-N leader said, neither Nawaz Sharif contacted him, “nor I felt any need of it”. To another question, he said, “General elections will be held definitely on February 8”.

He said that the conditions of level playing field are similar to how they were in the past when the PTI came to power. “What is level playing? It is the constitution and the law,” he said.

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On a question about “malicious intent” in Toshakhana and Al-Qadir cases, he said there are courts and the judicial system present, and the justice will be served, if not now then after five or six years. “I am facing cases in NAB courts for four years over attending a meeting,” Shahid Khaqan said.

“Current NAB [National Accountability Bureau] chairman is unaware that the people’s lives are being destroyed, who will be accountable for this injustice in the country,” Abbasi said.

Earlier reports suggested that the former premier will formally announce his decision to part ways with the PML-N in coming days. The veteran politician had earlier asserted that he would not contest in the general elections, terming the upcoming polls as ‘pointless. – INP