News Desk |
The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on Friday conducted an unsuccessful raid at the Model Town residence of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Shahbaz Sharif to arrest his son and Opposition Leader in Punjab Assembly Hamza Shahbaz for involvement in money laundering.
According to NAB, the team has evidence and arrest warrant against Hamza. The security guards stopped the team outside the house after which harsh words were exchanged. Afterwards, the officials left without arresting anyone due to severe resistance by the guards.
NAB had decided to file a reference against Hamza Shahbaz for his alleged role being chief executive of the Ramzan Sugar Mills to construct a bridge facilitating his mills out of the public money in Chiniot.
NAB sources revealed that Hamza Shahbaz had declared property worth 2 crore in 2003 while his assets grew 2000 percent during the PML-N government. The opposition leader had illegally laundered Rs85billions abroad, the sources told. The officials claimed that they have already detained Sharif family‘s facilitators while more arrests are also likely.
Talking to media, Hamza Shahbaz condemned the operation and said the way NAB raided our house made us feel that we are terrorists. I always appear whenever court or NAB summon. NAB team has gone against the decision of Lahore High Court (LHC) by coming to arrest me like a ‘superman’, he said.
Read more: Shahbaz Sharif to remain in NAB’s custody
Hamza said Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan did politics on my ailing daughter. Court had allowed me to travel abroad for the treatment of my daughter. We are standing with the nation. Lies and fake promises of the incumbent government of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) will soon dissolve it, he concluded.
PML-N Spokesman Malik Ahmed Khan claimed that the officials of anti-corruption watchdog conducted the raid at 96-H Model Town house without search warrant which is against the law. He said that the incumbent government has turned entire country into a police state.
NAB sources revealed that Hamza Shahbaz had declared property worth 2 crore in 2003 while his assets grew 2000 percent during the PML-N government.
Meanwhile, PML-N leader Marriyum Aurangzeb condemned the NAB raid and said that NAB didn’t inform prior to conducting the operation.
NAB will Arrest Hamza
The NAB spokesperson said a team had gone to the residence to arrest Hamza Shahbaz on the basis of evidence against him in the assents beyond means and alleged money laundering case. “NAB officials were treated aggressively by Hamza Shahbaz’s guards, their clothes were torn and death threats were given”, the spokesperson said.
NAB officials had gone to the residence with an arrest warrant and the Supreme Court had stated that the accountability bureau did not require to inform any accused prior to arresting them. The press release added that Hamza Shahbaz had violated the law and the bureau on the basis of evidence against and in light of Supreme Court directives would arrest him.
Read more: Shahbaz Sharif indicted in Ashiana Housing scandal: NRO or No NRO?
Fawad Chaudhary Bashes Hamza
Federal Minister for Information Fawad Chaudhry while addressing the press conference said former premiers Asif Ali Zardari and Nawaz Sharif are to blame for the difficulties plaguing the country and NAB’s raid at Shahbaz’s residence was in accordance with the law,
Lamenting that the officials were subjected to torture by Hamza’s security guards, Chaudhry continued that the PML-N workers interrupted the state’s action.
Hamza said Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan did politics on my ailing daughter. Court had allowed me to travel abroad for the treatment of my daughter.
Taking jibe at Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and Hamza Shahbaz, Chaudhry said, “Their fathers kept properties in their children’s names to avoid accountability. Now, the shrieks of mafia can be heard from Lahore to Larkana.”
Read more: Shahbaz Sharif faces another JIT in Model Town massacre
“Ask these people running the ‘Abu Bachao’ campaign, where is their money coming from? They don’t have any sources of income, yet they live like Arab kings.”
“Robbers in Pakistan cannot sleep due to fear. They are in danger,” he added.
Earlier, NAB had decided to file a reference against Hamza Shahbaz for his alleged role being chief executive of the Ramzan Sugar Mills to construct a bridge facilitating his mills out of the public money in Chiniot. Hamza Shahbaz is also facing assets beyond income case and Saaf Pani Scandal.