News Analysis |
In an another latest development, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has formally initiated investigation against the President of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Ameer Muqam. He is being accused of amassing wealth beyond known sources of income.
In a meeting presided by the NAB chairman, retired Justice Javed Iqbal, the decision was made to initiate inquires against four people. Mr Muqam, Maulana Amir Zaman, Abdul Malik Kakar and Peshawar District Nazim Asim Khan will all be investigated, said the NAB spokesperson in an official press release, for allegedly amassing assets beyond their declared sources of income.
Nawaz Sharif is said to be a soft-hearted friend of Modi and Indian establishment. This is something not digestible in Pakistani’s political discourse, claim the party leadership. The Supreme Court has also issued contempt notices to several PML-N leaders, leveling fines and sending the senators behind the bars.
NAB chairman directed the director general NAB in KPK to look into the allegations against Mr. Muqam. Interestingly, the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) had already accused Mr. Muqam of being a part of mega financial corruption in the province and also requested NAB to formally initiate the investigation.
Mr. Muqam is accused of receiving millions of rupees every year, since the past 10 years while overseeing the construction of the Swat-Bisham road. The ruling party in KPK, PTI, alleged that the provincial president of the PML-N is not working to uplift the status of people rather he is working to build mansions across the country for himself.
Read more: Is NAB really capable of initiating meaningful investigation against Nawaz?
PML-N leadership under Investigation on Corruption Charges
These are tough days for the PML-N. Almost all the top leadership of the PML-N is currently under investigation on corruption charges, including ex-prime minister Nawaz Sharif, Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif and Railway Minister Khawaja Saad Rafique.
Political affairs have witnessed a tide after Imran Khan started a movement against corruption. The main target has been the PML-N, for one very obvious reason, that the party is ruling in the country. Pakistan’s economy, development projects and political stability have remained in infancy due to mega financial embezzlements. The rulers in Pakistan are accused of corruption and money laundering. This allegation further gets momentum when one looks at the properties, outside Pakistan, owned by the ruling class.
The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has formally initiated investigation against the President of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Ameer Muqam. He is being accused of amassing wealth beyond known sources of income.
The NAB has also been tough on some ‘chosen’ bureaucrats in Punjab as well. Ahad Cheema who is allegedly involved in corruption has been arrested by the NAB. According to the sources, due to the basis of information provided by Mr. Cheema, NAB might arrest some other high-profile bureaucrats as well. On Cheema’s arrest Punjab Cabinet seemed very uncomfortable. The Punjab Law Minister accused the NAB for being ‘irresponsible’ and for taking part ‘illegal’ activities, which damage people’s character. The NAB has, however, rejected all the allegations leveled by Punjab government in Ahad Cheema’s case.
Read more: Fawad lands in hot water after NAB summons him in Ashiana…
PML-N Political Stance
Since almost all the top leadership of the party is under investigation on charges of corruption the image of the PML-N in the eyes of pubic has suffered. The outed prime minister, after the court’s verdict in Panamagate case, decided to establish an anti-judiciary and anti-establishment narrative. The top leadership of the party did second the narrative and propagated it across the country. The underlying intention of the PML-N leadership is to present the Sharif family as main target of the establishment and judiciary in Pakistan.
Nawaz Sharif and his daughter Maryam Safdar have claimed several times that they were being punished for having an economic agenda and a desire to establish peaceful relations with the neighboring states. Nawaz Sharif is said to be a soft-hearted friend of Modi and Indian establishment. This is something not digestible in Pakistani’s political discourse, claim the party leadership.
The Supreme Court has also issued contempt notices to several PML-N leaders, leveling fines and sending the senators behind the bars.