SUKKUR: Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Syed Khursheed Ahmed Shah advised Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Saturday to resign “today” if he wanted to save the democratic system.

Talking to reporters at the Sukkur Barrage after meeting a delegation of agriculturalists from Balochistan and officials of the irrigation department, Mr Shah said the Pakistan Peoples Party always struggled to save democracy, while the Pakistan Muslim League-N, especially Mr Sharif, always derailed it through his attitude. This resulted in the country’s third strong power having occupied the system, while Mr Sharif flew abroad after demolishing the democratic system and enjoyed his life in other countries, the PPP leader said.

He said the Supreme Court would soon announce the judgements in the Panama Papers and other cases involving Mr Sharif and Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf chief Imran Khan. If the prime minister was disqualified through the court then it would not be good for the country, he said.

He said Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan was a graceful and worthy personality who had a strong friendship with Mr Sharif and if the prime minister lost his support and friendship, it would be a big loss for the PML-N and the government.

Mr Shah said Chaudhry Nisar never indulged in loose talk about the judiciary and its judgements and he was a man of principles in politics. He advised Mr Sharif not to lose the interior minister.

Published in Dawn, July 23rd, 2017