Tarar says Imran's arrest carried out in line with constitution
Pakistan
Criticises PTI for staging violent protests
ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – Federal Law Minister Azam Nazir Tarar on Tuesday said former prime minister Imran Khan had been arrested in line with the constitution.
Addressing the press, he said the Islamabad High Court Chief Justice Aamer Farooq took the action as the arrest had been conducted on the court's premises. “Thought it was carried out outside the premises, I would not like to go into details right now,” he added.
He went on to say that he would like to tell the PTI that arrest warrants were executed to arrest Mr Khan, seven member medical examination committee was formed to diagnose him, and it was up to court to decide to send him on judicial remand.
The mishandling during the arrest was condemnable, he said. “I have talked to Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah and PM Shehbaz Sharif to ensure bringing the use of force to minimum in such circumstances,” he added.
But as a lawyer, he said, he would like to say that the constitution should reign supreme as manifested in cooperating for investigation, replying to NAB notices, answering questions asked on inquiry stage. “The government had examined NAB law and tried to make it justice-friendly” he added.
NAB proceeded in safe lines though the PTI had been crying foul, he said. Outlining the changes in NAB law during the PDM's tenure, he added that the opposition during the PTI government had faced worst NAB.
Commenting on the PTI's reaction on Mr Khan's arrest, he said civilised nations did not stage violent protests. “These reactions are condemnable,” he added. It was a responsibility of every Pakistani, he said, to conduct himself in lines with the constitution.
He went on to say that the constitution should be allowed to do its job now. “Pressurising the judiciary to take relief is not tolerable anymore,” he added.
Sharing details of the origin of corruption, he said National Crime Authority UK decided to repatriate money to Pakistan and a confidential agreementd had also been brought before the cabinet but kept under the carpet. "When ministers sougt details, it was shrugged off by saying that it is a legal matter," he added.
But later, it was discovered, he said, that a trust had been formed to receive the money in kickbacks with Mr Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi as trustees. "NAB sent notices but they evaded them," he added. Everyone knew, he said, what happened when police went to Zaman Park to arrest Mr Khan.
“Politicians should face allegations courageously,” he said. "PML-N supremo and former PM Nawaz and his daughter Maryam Nawaz served in jails for cases they had been abducted in later," he added. No evidence of corruption, he said, was found against them.
The minister said politicians or public officer holders were trialed by the NAB with strict hands because people had psed their trust in them. “Had it not been better that Mr Khan appeared before the NAB and moved the court if found NAB's inquiries unsatisfactory,” he added.
