The political party founded by former presidential candidate Ahmed Shafiq has vowed to sue media outlets that reported Egyptian authorities had advised Shafiq to abstain from political comments.
Yahia Qadry Hussein, deputy chairman of the Egyptian National Movement Party, told the satellite channel Al-Assema late Wednesday that reports stating “superior state authorities” had asked Shafiq to “remain silent” were untrue, adding that the party’s response will be given in the courtroom.
Hussein added that he was among partisan figures who met with President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi on Wednesday, and stressed that the president had not brought up the issue during the meeting.
Independent Al-Shorouk newspaper published a report three days ago in which it quoted official sources as saying that Egyptian authorities had warned Shafiq against his attempts to remain in the political limelight.
The report quoted the unnamed source as accusing UAE-based Shafiq of attempting to “undermine the legitimacy of president Abdel Fattah al-Sisi”.
Shafiq left Egypt and moved to the UAE following his defeat in the 2012 presidential election against former President Mohamed Morsi. He was acquitted of a number of corruption charges in absentia.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
