PML-N terms NAB DG's interviews 'political revenge'
Opposition moved a privilege motion against NAB director general for his controversial interview
ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – The leaders of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) on Friday lashed out at National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Lahore chapter Director General Shahzad Saleem over his interviews with local TV channels.
Addressing a press conference in Islamabad on Friday, ex-PM Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and other senior PML-N leaders termed the DG NAB’s interviews a form of "political revenge".
The PML-N leaders also demanded Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Justice Saqib Nisar to take suo motu notice of the interviews.
Shahid Khaqan Abbasi said, “It was clear what NAB is doing. It’s pretty simple what’s happening but if I say it then a NAB case will be formed."
He said that a NAB official has been conducting media trial of parliamentarians on the directions of the anti-graft watchdog’s chairman.
Earlier taking floor in the National Assembly, the ex-prime minister had accused Director General of the NAB Lahore Shahzad Saleem of holding a ‘media trial’ of opposition on news channels.
Referring to the NAB official’s talk in Dunya News program Dunya Kamran Khan Kay Sath, Abbasi said that Shahzad exposed confidential information on television and urged the House to immediately intervene in the matter.
Meanwhile, Information Minister Chaudhary Fawad Hussain said that the government has given unprecedented media freedom in the country.
He said no media trial is being conducted of any politician, adding law is equal for anyone and will take its course.
The participants were also informed that Rs1.43 billion was spent on the construction of ex-prime ministers Nawaz Sharif and Shahid Khaqan Abbasi’s camp offices.
A written reply stating that camp office in Jati Umra continued to work after the appointment of Shahid Khaqan Abbasi as PM was submitted.
The Jati Umra office used more than Rs9 million in five years while Rs5.1 million was spent by Islamabad office in two years, it added.
Opposition submits a privilege motion in NA
Earlier today, the opposition had moved a privilege motion against NAB director general for his controversial interview at the National Assembly Secretariat.
The opposition in Friday session demanded of Speaker National Assembly Asad Qaisar to bring privilege motion against NAB DG. Responding the opposition demand, the speaker said law will be consulted after receiving the motion.
The opposition, however, submitted privilege motion at the Assembly Secretariat when it could not move the motion in the National Assembly. The National Assembly session was held under the chair of Speaker Asad Qaisar.
PML-N leader and former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi said a NAB officer is doing parliament members’ media trail and he had been doing this on the direction of the Bureau’s chairman.
He said they want accountability but not the accountability of those who take salaries from the government. Abbasi further said a NAB officer insulting parliamentarians on media is a violation of Supreme Court order as the court had ordered that the under trial case will not be discussed on media.
