LONDON – Former Prime Minister Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif said he had greatrespect for Pakistan army as an institution and also eulogized itssacrifices on war against terrorism and on the line of Control (LOC) forthe cause of the country.

Talking to media persons outside the Harley street clinic where his spouseBegum Kulsoom Nawaz is under treatment, the former premier alleged that hisparty candidates were being either harassed or forced to change theirloyalties for joining Pakistan Tehreek Insaf (PTI) or asked to contest withthe election symbol of Jeep instead of Lion which was the election symbolof Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N).

‘An interference was being made in the election process which is an attemptto rig the July 2018 polls against the spirit of the constitution,’ hewarned but hastened to add that the Pakistani nation would never tolerateany rigging in the election process.

Nawaz Sharif appealed the Chief Election Commissioner of Pakistan to takemeasures for holding free, fair and impartial elections in the country.

The supreme leader of Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz declared that he willface the challenges and never disappoint the Pakistani nation while workfor giving respect to people’s vote.

Sharif was of the view that he was facing a difficult situation due toserious illness of his wife and clarified that he would return to Pakistanafter the recovery of Kulsoom Nawaz.

Expressed his concern for placing Pakistan from white area to grey area bythe Financial Action Task Force (FATF), the former lawmaker claimed thatafter his ouster, the economic progress in the country starteddeteriorating.