LAHORE: Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah on Thursday said that National Accountability Bureau (NAB) is harassing big investors in the country through its irresponsible actions and if this practice is continued they will flee abroad.

“The harassed investors would flee abroad, leaving behind watchmen and us,” Rana Sanaullah told media persons.

Referring to the statement made by the prime minister over NAB the other day, he said the PM meant that the NAB should play its role with greater responsibility.

“There is no pressure on NAB and Prime Minister only wants it to function with an added responsibility,” he maintained.

He said that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif did not criticize NAB but what he said should be perceived as recommendations. The Law Minister also said that the NAB should not detain investors for long hours. Sanaullah said that none would remain interested in investing if it continued to function like this.

He asked: “What does NAB want to dig out from the Raiwind Road’s 16-year-old project?”

It is worth mentioning here that NAB had apprehended Orange Line Metro project contractor Aamir Latif earlier which allegedly irked the Prime Minister. Kalson Private Limited, a company owned by the contractor is working on the Orange Line project launched by the Punjab government.

On Wednesday, the Law Minister held a press conference in Lahore and said that PM Nawaz reserves the authority to direct the National Accountability Bureau.

He said that Punjab authorities would welcome bureau’s action against corruption in Punjab.

To a question about operation in Punjab, he said that province is comparatively secured, therefore there is no need of initiating an operation in this province.—INP