Live: Shehbaz Sharif addresses first NA session after arrest
Live: Shehbaz Sharif addresses first NA session after arrest
ISLAMABAD: Leader of the Opposition, Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday lashed out at the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf government in his first address in the National Assembly after his arrest in a corruption scandal.
The PML-N president said there’s an unholy alliance between the National Accountability Bureau and the ruling PTI. The premiership of Imran Khan is an outcome of rigging, he added.
The PML-N president, who is facing corruption charges in Ashiana Housing Scheme, thanked the PPP co-chairman Bilawal Bhutto and other opposition leaders for demanding his production orders for NA session.
“I am not here to discuss the merits of my case, this is not the forum but I will detail the duplicity of accountability process.”
Sheikh Rasheed, he said, had in July stated that I will be arrested soon. “The NAB chief had already approved my arrest on July 06 but why were they not implemented, the history will tell,” he added.
Detailing the interrogation of NAB in the scam, the PML-N president said the anti-graft body told that there are no corruption charges against him in the award of Ashiana but that he has favoured brother of former army chief Ashfaq Pervez Kiani by cancelling the contract.
The contract was awarded by the government of Ch Perveaiz Elahi and not PML-N, he said. “The PML-N, in-fact has saved billions of rupees in mega projects.”
“When the NAB official, who was interrogating me alleged that I have properties in Turkey and China, I hit the roof. I challenged the accusation, they stepped back. Then, the officer blamed that the assets may be ‘benami’, I challenged this too. And they stepped back from it too.”
“And these are the same allegation that Imran Khan has been levelling against me. What else do we need to ascertain the NAB-PTI alliance,” Shehbaz said.
Is this National Accountability Bureau or National Blackmailing Bureau, he asked.
‘These acts of the anti-corruption body can damage Pakistan’s ties with brotherly countries of Turkey and China.’
Earlier, the younger Sharif, who is currently in NAB custody, was brought to the National Assembly on Wednesday to attend the today’s session.
Speaker Asad Qaisar had issued production orders for Shehbaz, stating that he should be allowed to attend the session on a daily basis under the rules.
The Speaker has summoned the session by exercising the powers conferred upon him under article 54(3) of the Constitution to discuss the sudden arrest of the PML-N president.
‘NAB ordinance bars scrutiny of conduct’
On the demand of formation of Shehbaz Sharif to form a House Committee to probe these matters , Law Minister Farogh Naseem, said the NAB rules bars such scrutiny.
He also denied the allegations of Opposition Leader that the government is interfering the investigations.
Why only politicians are being targeted: Khursheed Shah
PPP stalwart Khursheed Shah speaking on the floor of the parliament, presented his views on the current plight that the country is in.
“We have seen a massive surge in the rate of dollar. It has gone up by 17 rupees!”
He added, “The only thing that concerns everyone is exerting pressure, arresting politicians. All this has created a rift between the government and the opposition. ”
Speaking on the alarming inflation in the country, the former Leader of Opposition said, “According to the IMF, the inflation rate in Pakistan is 14%. Who will pay the price of this inflation?” he asked.
Article source: https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/382009-shehbaz-sharif-brought-to-na