News Desk |
Former premier Nawaz Sharif on Tuesday, 9th October, stated that he would soon raise voice over the arrest of former Punjab chief minister and his brother Shahbaz Sharif.
The National Accountability Bureau has started investigating Pakistan Muslim League-N President and opposition leader in the National Assembly Shahbaz Sharif in Ashiana-e-Iqbal housing scam, according to local media reports. The anti-corruption body has also summoned Salman Shahbaz, son of Shahbaz Sharif, in a case pertaining to the accumulation of assets beyond the known sources of income.
“The prime minister has said he will get 50 people arrested. Who has given him the authority to do so?” he questioned.
Sources said irregularities had been noticed in the bank accounts of Salman Shahbaz. In its notice to Salman, NAB said: “During interrogation accused Shahbaz Sharif has stated that all of his matters relevant to assets, income, and expenditures are being looked after by you and you are acquainted with and in possession of such information/documents.
You are requested to appear before a combined investigation team on Oct 10, 3pm, along with documents of all assets, properties including those sold out here or abroad, documents pertaining to sources of income, complete income tax returns and wealth tax returns, details of investments/shareholding in companies in and outside Pakistan.”
Read more: Fall of the house of Sharif: NAB arrests Shahbaz
Shahbaz Sharif was arrested on Oct 5 when he appeared before NAB to record his statement in the Punjab Saaf Pani Company case. Sources said Shahbaz was arrested after Fawad Hassan Fawad, the then implementation secretary, told NAB that he carried out corrupt activities in projects in Punjab on orders from Shahbaz, who was the chief minister then.
NAB had also received information from Fawad Hassan’s laptop, from which data was retrieved after his arrest. While briefing the media in the first informal conversation since his release from prison last month, Nawaz Sharif opened up on his brother’s arrest pointing that Shahbaz had worked day in and day out to bring prosperity in the province.
Nawaz Sharif has written a petition letter to Interior Ministry seeking removal of Sharif family members from the Exit Control List which bars him to travel abroad.
“Pakistanis and foreigners alike praise Shahbaz’s work. Those who accused him were embarrassed after the Chinese government clarified the allegations,” he said. “If this is accountability, then we regret this process”. The former Premier indicated that he will respond in due time “I don’t feel like talking.
I will speak, but not now,” he responded to concerns over attempting against the matter. The PML-N Quaid expressed concern over Prime Minister Imran Khan’s claims regarding 50 more arrests in the coming. “The prime minister has said he will get 50 people arrested. Who has given him the authority to do so?” he questioned.
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He stated that the government is fixated at political revenge despite the country’s stability being affected due to such proceedings. He also said the country will take time to overcome its economic crisis. “Forbearance is necessary for the country to progress. This country has already sunk and if political targeting continues, things will continue to become bleak,” Nawaz said.
He said that no one would appear ‘clean’ in Pakistan if probes are run into assets’ appearing to exceed their income, “Be it the rich or poor, nobody discloses all of the income received from selling off assets,” he said.
He also took a jibe at former dictator Pervez Musharraf and demanded that “All laws formed under Musharraf’s tenure should be reviewed. We should get rid of notorious laws”. The former Premier has applied for his removal from the Exit Control List.
Read more: Shahbaz Sharif Arrest: NAB gets 10 day remand from Court
Nawaz Sharif has written a petition letter to Interior Ministry seeking removal of Sharif family members from the Exit Control List which bars him to travel abroad. According to reports, the PML-N supreme leader requested the ministry to strike off his name and that of daughter Maryam Nawaz and son-in-law Capt (retd) Safdar from the no-fly list.