RECORDER REPORT
ISLAMABAD: The Central Executive Committee (CEC) of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Friday threw its weight behind deposed Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, asking chairman National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to provide proof of the alleged money laundering by him at the earliest or step down.
The meeting chaired by Nawaz Sharif was attended by Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Chief Minister Punjab and PML-N President Shahbaz Sharif, PML-N Chairman Raja Zafarul Haq, Speaker National Assembly Ayaz Sadiq, Maryam Nawaz, Hamza Shahbaz, and cabinet members, including Saad Rafique, Marriyum Aurangzeb and Barjees Tahir.
Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed, AJK Prime Minister Farooq Haider, Senator Pervaiz Rashid, Sardar Mehtab Abbasi and Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah were among the party leaders who also attended the meeting.
Nawaz Sharif on Thursday last demanded the NAB Chairman Justice (retd) Javed Iqbal present proof of the charges of money laundering leveled against him within 24 hours or resign.
In a press release issued after the meeting, the PML-N's CEC condemned the "extremely irresponsible statement based on a false media report" by the NAB. "The CEC meeting participants unanimously concluded that each person responsible for the "lie" must be revealed and that all steps must be taken to prosecute them under the law," it added.
It stated: "The participants of the CEC also pledged that they would foil every conspiracy and tactic against Nawaz Sharif through constitutional, legal and democratic struggle, which will continue until all stains of falsehood are erased through a show of massive public support."
It maintained that the report which was made the basis of ordering an inquiry into the alleged money laundering was itself refuted by both the World Bank and the State Bank of Pakistan. "There is no mention of money laundering or any individual in the report published by the World Bank," it added.
The meeting also decided to prepare party manifesto according to aspirations of the people. The meeting pondered over the prevailing political situation in the country and other matters of urgent importance, it added.
Speaking to the participants of the CEC meeting, Nawaz Sharif condemned the NAB probe against him, saying the NAB chief is exacting revenge in the name of accountability. "The NAB has turned into a prejudiced department," he told the meeting.
Nawaz Sharif also announced formation of the party's parliamentary board and an election cell to discuss awarding party tickets to its candidates for the upcoming general elections.
Earlier, talking to reports informally inside the Accountability Court, Nawaz Sharif said that the money laundering allegation against him by the NAB is a serious issue that needs to be addressed.
To a question about PML-N's future scenario, he said, "how worse can the scenario be than what it is today?" About the way out, he said that the "engineers" of the current situation should also find out a solution.
When asked about Shahbaz Sharif's statement that contradicted Nawaz's earlier remarks that PML-N would compete with "aliens" in upcoming general election and assured that he (Shahbaz) would award party ticket to Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, Nawaz Sharif declined to comment in response to both the queries.
