Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Vice President assailed Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief, repeating her accusations that the ousted premier was using religion for political gains, accusing her of sowing dissent and discord, and having the support of elements with the Establishment.

“If those who treat him as a favourite (ladla) stop giving him preferntial treatment, he will come to his senses within three days,” said Maryam while speaking to journalists outside the Islamabad High Court after a plea hearing against her conviction in the Avenfield case.

When asked who was giving Imran preferential treatment, the PML-N leader evaded the question.

Religion shouldn’t be dragged into politics, she added while criticising the PTI leader for what she said was using religion “for petty political gains”.

Maryam Nawaz referred to Imran’s recent statement at a public rally in which the PTI leader drew parallels between the situation in Pakistan with that of the time of the advent of Islam at the time of the Holy Prophet (PBUH).

“Please think before saying such things, particularly when you have a mic in hand,” she said. “Do you even know the meaning of shirk (idolatory)?”

“One person is sowing discord and spreading destruction and chaos. There is proof that he is foreign-funded,” she said. This man was sent with money and dollars to destroy Pakistan, she maintained. “He backtracked on the agreement with the IMF and his actions have brought Pakistan to the brink of financial ruin.”

Referring to the PTI chief as ‘fitna’, Maryam Nawaz said no one has been spared his malice. “He used objectional language for a woman judge,” she added by way of argument. Imran has been facing contempt charges after making threats against an Islamabad judge who granted PTI leader Shahbaz Gill’s physical remand.

Talking about flood relief efforts, she siad Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif was helping people without discrimination even though he doesn’t control the government in any province. “He isn’t doing just telethons,” said Maryam Nawaz, adding that Imran only does ‘photo sessions in helicopters’.

Imran Khan raised the issue of the army chief’s extension on purpose, she added. “Imran Khan should stick to his stance on the extension.” Imran had previously claimed that the coalition government - spearheaded by the PML-N and PPP - was against early elections in order to influence the appointment of the next army chief. However, in a recent interview with journalist Kamran Khan in his show on Dunya TV, Imran said that the army chief’s tenure could be extended until elections are held. The term of General Qamar Javed Bajwa, the incumbent army chief, expires on November 29.

“If they want early elections, then they (PTI) should dissolve the provincial assembles of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab,” she said in response to a question about early elections.

“I personally think he is mentally deranged. He is not a danger to the government, but to Pakistan,” she said.