ISLAMABAD - Awami Muslim League (AML) Chief Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed yesterday accused Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif of bribing the judiciary in the past but hoped that the apex court would bring the country out of the current political turmoil.

"I was depressed the other day (Tuesday) and did not go to the Supreme Court to hear the proceedings of the apex court over Panama leaks as I know the history of Nawaz Sharif," Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed said while addressing the supports of PTI at the Parade Ground.

Sheikh Rasheed, who attended the PTI's 'Thanksgiving rally' on the invitation of Chairman Imran Khan, accused Nawaz Sharif of bribing the judiciary through Saifur Rehman, former chairman of Ehtesab Bureau. "He has been buying loyalties of politicians in Changa Manga," he said. "I wanted to fight (on November 2) and oust the PML-N from the power," he said. The firebrand Sheikh Rasheed, a politician from the garrison city Rawalpindi who also remained a close confidant of Nawaz Sharif in the past, hoped that the Supreme Court would decide over Panama leaks and bring the country out of this political crisis.

He also accused the Prime Minister of damaging the repute of army and said," Nawaz Sharif wanted to make army as Punjab Police. He also lashed out at PPP leadership and said that former President Asif Zardari has been apologizing army through Rehman Malik, former interior minister. He said that Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly and PPP leader Syed Khursheed Shah should be ashamed of himself for criticising Imran Khan. "The leader of double shah (Khursheed Shah) frightens to come to Pakistan," he remarked while hinting towards Zardari.

Speaking on the issue of leaks of the national security meeting, he said that the nation did not accept the sacrifice of former information minister Pervaiz Rasheed.