Opposition protests in NA against SA Speaker Siraj Durrani's arrest
Last updated on: 21 February,2019 03:13 pm
The opposition participated in the session while wearing black ribbons on arms.
ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – Opposition parties on Thursday staged protest in National Assembly against the arrest of Sindh Assembly Speaker Agha Siraj Durrani by National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in assets disproportionate to his known sources of income and funds embezzlement cases.
The opposition participated in the session while wearing black ribbons on arms and chanted slogans against the detention, demanding to release the speaker immediately.
Addressing the House, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader Khursheed Shah said that only political leaders are being held accountable.
He strongly condemned arrest of Sindh Assembly Speaker Agha Siraj Durrani and asked, "Is this new Pakistan in which respected leaders are being apprehended in humiliating ways?"
Former Opposition Leader in NA said that PPP has always worked for the benefit of the nation. Subsequently, the session has been adjourned till tomorrow (Friday).
NAB arrests Agha Siraj Durrani
On February 20, NAB had arrested Agha Siraj Durrani for investigation into assets disproportionate to his known sources of income and funds embezzlement charges.
Afterwards, accountability court had sent Durrani on a three-day transit remand. According to NAB, the speaker owns properties in Karachi, Hyderabad and Sukkur while he could not provide satisfactory response to the ongoing investigation by NAB officials.
The NAB had also obtained the required information from the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) and found that the properties and companies have been named after him and his 11 family members.
The speaker was taken into custody from a hotel in Islamabad’s Red Zone area.
It is pertinent to mention that the NAB had approved an inquiry against Durrani over various allegations of corruption in July, 2018.