Federal Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah Khan, while talking to a private TV channel, said that both the federal and Punjab governments have the power to revoke or suspend the sentence of an accused. He said that these provisions could be used to provide relief to the PML-N leader and others.
However, he said that they would decide on Nawaz Sharif’s repatriation based on his health.
Rana Sanaullah also hinted at amending the constitution and related laws so that the presiding officer would have the power to take oath after the election of the prime minister or chief minister instead of leaving the matter to the president or governor.
He said that the need for this initiative was felt in the crisis of Punjab in which the swearing in ceremony of Hamza Shahbaz was postponed for weeks despite the orders of the Governor Lahore High Court.
He said that in future, the presiding officer electing the Prime Minister or Chief Minister would be given the power to take oath of office from the winning candidate.
Responding to another question about the closure of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), he said that the move would be politically damaging, however, the current chairman of NAB would have to go as his tenure would be extended or re-appointed. There is no procedure.