Nawaz bigger threat to country than Altaf: Tahirul Qadri

DUBAI (INP): A populist cleric has called Nawaz Sharif a ‘bigger threat to the country’s integrity’ than Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) founder Altaf Hussain.

Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) chief Tahirul Qadri said on Friday that the hooliganism of the lawyers and supporters of the PML-N at an accountability court earlier in the day was ominous.

“Now it’s abundantly clear why the Rangers were removed from the National Judicial Complex,” the cleric told a news conference in Lahore. “The security of the accountability court should be handed over to the army and Rangers,” he demanded.

The PAT chief said Sharif had resorted to unconstitutional methods as he was attacking state institutions.

“Nawaz Sharif doesn’t even consider the Supreme Court ‘Supreme’. The Sharif family is hell-bent on damaging the country’s economy and maligning the state institutions,” he said.

“If they are not stopped, the country will find itself mired in an infinite crisis,” he added. “There are no bigger terrorists and goons in the country than the Sharif family.”

Earlier on Friday, an accountability court in Islamabad adjourned the hearing of the graft cases against the Sharif family till October 19.

The decision came shortly after Sharif’s daughter Maryam Nawaz and son-in-law Captain (retd) Safdar appeared in court for the hearing of the graft cases against them.

However, chaos ensued as PML-N lawyers and supporters tried to gatecrash the courtroom forcing the judge to adjourn the hearing.

As Judge Muhammad Bashir entered the courtroom a number of lawyers forced their way into the courtroom. They reportedly surrounded the judges’ bench claiming that they were manhandled by security forces outside the court and denied entry.