LAHORE: Incarcerated PTI-Punjab President Dr Yasmin Rashid on Wednesday questioned legitimacy of PML-N supreme leader Nawaz Sharif presiding over meetings of the provincial government.

In a brief conversation with the reporters outside an anti-terrorism court (ATC), she said the country was witnessing a “dark era”.

She alleged that Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, by having her father preside over the official meetings, demonstrated that the Sharif family considered itself above the law.

She said Mr Sharif’s victory as an MNA was also controversial and the matter was pending before courts.

The former provincial health minister alleged that the PML-N was running the Punjab province like a monarchy.

Dr Rashid said an attempt had been made to create differences in the provinces by getting arrest warrants issued against the chief minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

She urged the Supreme Court to play its role in the “circumstances of chaos and uncertainty” in the country.

Earlier, ATC Judge Arshad Javed adjourned the trial proceedings against Dr Rashid and other PTI leaders till April 6 in multiple cases pertaining to May 9 riots.

The judge also issued notices to the prosecution on a post-arrest bail petition of Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) MPA Hafiz Farhat Abbas in a case of attack on police personnel outside the Zaman Park residence of PTI founder Imran Khan.

Racecourse police had arrested the MPA in the case.

The other day, the court denied the MPA’s physical remand to the police, sending him to jail on judicial remand.

The court will resume hearing on the bail petition on Thursday (today).

Published in Dawn, March 21st, 2024