Govt has nothing to do with NAB raid at Shahbaz Sharif residence : Spokesman Prime Minister

Lahore : The spokesman to Prime Minister of Pakistan Nadeem Afzal Chan has said that NAB is an independent and autonomous body and the government has nothing to do with its affairs.

He said that Hamza Shahbaz should have, morally, presented himself for arrest. Being the opposition leader in the Punjab Assembly, he should be a role model for the people rather than interfere in the government affairs, torture the NAB team and show hooliganism. They said that Ishaq Dar, Suleman Shahbaz, Hassan, Hussain and others in the family of Hamza Shahbaz are all absconders and they could not be trusted because befooling the people is the modus operandi of the remnants of Zia ul Haq. They said that Hamza was waiting for his turn, during their heyday in the power but they will have to be answerable for the money looted by them now.

Nadeem Afzal Chan said that Sharif family is unnerved like a fish out of the water after they are thrown out of the power corridors. They said that accountability of the elite is not properly held in Pakistan as police and system have been used for political purposes in the past. They said that all are equal before the law adding that the country needs economic reforms. We are ready for an economic charter with them but they will have to be answerable for the money looted by them. They praise the decision of Hudabia paper mill which was in their favor but criticizes the institutions when it is against them.

Nadeem Afzal Chan said that PTI leader Abdul Aleem Khan is already in the custody of NAB and Babar Awan is also facing the reference. Similarly, Speaker Sindh Assembly has been arrested by the NAB. The Supreme Court has given full authority to the NAB to arrest without any notice, they added.

These views were expressed by Spokesman to Prime Minister of PakistanNadeem Afzal Chan and Spokesman to Chief Minister Punjab Dr. Shahbaz Gill at a press conference at 90-SQA in response to the allegations of Hamza Shahbaz against the government.

Chairman Punjab Social Protection Authority Ali Asjad Malhi was also present on the occasion.

Dr. Shahbaz Gill said that NAB action has no connection with the government adding that we strongly condemn torturing of NAB team by Hamza Shahbaz and issuing life threats to them. He said that Punjab police was not included in this activity had there been the Punjab police, such sort of hooliganism would have not happened then. Hamza Shahbaz is not such a (big) personality which cannot be arrested. They said that 85 percent increase has been made in the assets of Hamza Shahbaz from 2003 till now. Allegations like money laundering and assets more than income are leveled against him. 

Dr. Shahbaz Gill said that police was used for political purposes in the past and Sharif family and Zardari will have to be answerable for their looted money instead of indulging in any hooliganism. They said that Prime Minister Imran Khan does not believe in the politics of revenge. No case was registered against them in the PTI tenure and all the cases were made during the past governments.

Replying to a question about giving Chief Minister’s powers to Spokesman to Punjab CM, Nadeem Afzal Chan said that no one could issue one’s own notification nor anyone can be given the powers of the Chief Minister and such news are simply propaganda.