Nawaz seeks apology, removal of NAB chief

RECORDER REPORT

ISLAMABAD: Former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Thursday sought an apology from National Accountability Bureau and demanded resignation of NAB Chairman former Justice Javed Iqbal if the Bureau fails to prove money laundering allegations against him.

Referring to NAB’s probe against him, involving alleged money laundering of $5 billion to India, Nawaz Sharif gave 24-hour deadline to NAB to provide evidence. He alleged that NAB has lost its credibility and its vindictive approach is weakening the democracy. Sharif further said that NAB’s allegations against a former prime minister of Pakistan are shameful.

Addressing a press conference here, Nawaz Sharif said the cases being heard against him by an accountability court are also based on unverified media reports, resulting from the Panama Papers Leaks.

He said, “You shall remember that my name was not included in the Panama Papers but whatever happened is in front of you.” He said he had appeared 70 times in the accountability court to face bogus cases.

He argued when a joint investigation team constituted by the apex court could not prove corruption against him, it had been decided to oust him and so an iqama (work permit) was used to disqualify him.

Referring to a notice taken by the chairman NAB on a two-year-old World Bank report doing the rounds that $4.9 billion were laundered to India, Sharif alleged a distorted version of World Bank report was a part of the same conspiracy against him.

He further questioned if NAB did not know that the World Bank had issued a clarification in 2016 and said there had been no money laundering. He recalled that reputed newspapers like the Wall Street Journal, Dawn and Business Recorder had also reported on the issue.

He argued that an unknown column published four months ago in an unknown newspaper was used to begin an investigation against him and it is unjust.

He demanded that NAB should answer all the questions within 24 hours and address these reservations; otherwise NAB should apologize to the nation and its chairman must resign.

Responding to a question, he asked, “Who is asking our MNAs to quit?” He added some forces have been pressuring his party’s lawmakers to quit and contest election as independent candidates or join Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf.

Sharif claimed that PML-N MNAs who do not wish to change loyalties have told him that they were approached by some people to get their loyalties changed. Sharif added that people who refused to comply with the directions were threatened with NAB cases.

He said there is no provision in NAB law that permits it lodging cases on the instructions of someone else or asking someone to change one’s loyalty.

He said those involved in it are mistaken if they assume that they would not be apprehended. “Political parties which still believe in democracy exist,” asserted Nawaz.

When asked if those engaging in sit-ins were supportive of ‘alien’ forces, Nawaz said although ‘alien’ forces are invisible, they would face forces of the earth.

In a reference to estranged PML-N lawmakers who formed the Janoobi Punjab Suba Mahaz (JPSM) and merged with the PTI, Sharif said those did not really want to join the PTI and suggested that they were forced to do so.

Answering a question, Sharif said he fully agreed with Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi’s speech in the National Assembly wherein he stressed that NAB should sort out its matters for the future rather than digging up old cases.

He said that he would not go to anyone to seek apology even if he is sentenced in corruption references.