News Analysis |
Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry on Friday objected on the privilege motion moved by the opposition in the National Assembly against the various television interviews given by the director general of National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Lahore. The minister maintained that it is an “attempt to influence” an ongoing investigation by the NAB.
Mr. Chaudhary who was unhappy over the development repeatedly urged the opposition not to influence an ongoing investigation. “It is not appropriate to move a privilege motion on an ongoing investigation,” he said.
It is worth mentioning here that the PML-N president—Shahbaz Sharif was arrested by the NAB in the Ashiana Iqbal Housing Scheme case and was produced before the accountability court Judge Najmul Hasan for his physical remand.
According to the details available on media, the DG NAB Lahore General Saleem Shehzad appeared on Geo News’ show ‘Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Sath’ on Thursday night, where he said that the anti-corruption watchdog would file a reference against Opposition Leader Shahbaz Sharif by the end of this month. The official also said that Shahbaz’s son-in-law Ali Imran deposited official cheques in his personal account.
The opposition’s privilege motion stated, “Mr. Saleem Shehzad, DG NAB Lahore with the consent of the Chairman NAB has appeared on the following TV programs of which the documentary evidence is available,” reads the motion, listing a number of TV programs which interviewed the NAB official.
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“He has conducted a media trial of opposition members, attempted to influence the so-called cases against the members of the National Assembly, provided details of the matters that are sub-judice, revealed details of confidential and secret NAB documents and maligned the reputation of the members of the Parliament,” the motion states.
It is worth mentioning here that the PML-N president—Shahbaz Sharif was arrested by the NAB in the Ashiana Iqbal Housing Scheme case and was produced before the accountability court Judge Najmul Hasan for his physical remand. He has been accused of ordering cancelation of a contract of Aashiana-e-Iqbal to a successful bidder, leading to the award of the contract to another builder, which resulted in a loss of Rs 193 million approximately.
It is also being said that the DG NAB should have not appeared on national TV and made comments about an ongoing investigation.
He also directed PLDC to assign the project of Aashiana-e-Iqbal to LDA resulting into the award of contracts to M/s Lahore Casa Developers (JV), thus causing loss of Rs 715 million approximately and ultimately failure of the project, according to the notice.
Analysts believe DG NAB is an honest person. He is being criticized by the opposition since he is doing a great job, it is added. “#DGNAB Shahzad Saleem is an honest person, says Saad Rasool”.
#DGNAB Shehzad Saleem is an honest person, says Saad Rasool
Watch Live: https://t.co/WzGiFMYqsz #DunyaPrograms @headlinesat5@pmln_org @PTIofficial @MediaCellPPP pic.twitter.com/L86MOJfQKx— Dunya News (@DunyaNews) November 9, 2018
Political commentators maintain that since the PTI has rejected to sign any NRO with the opposition and give a free hand to those involved in corruption during their tenure, the opposition is making all efforts to make the ongoing investigation controversial.
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It is also being said that the DG NAB should have not appeared on national TV and made comments about an ongoing investigation. But as matter of fact, whether the DG NAB should have appeared on a national TV or not is one side of the debate, the hidden agenda of the opposition is not to let the watchdog file a reference against the opposition leaders.