RECORDER REPORT

LAHORE: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has postponed the PML-N Vice-President Maryam Nawaz's hearing at its Lahore office on Friday (today).

In a statement on Thursday, the NAB said that the decision has been taken in view of the NCOC guidelines which include ban on all public gathering to contain the spread of novel coronavirus and “in wider public interest”.

“The NAB Lahore has decided to defer the hearing while new date for hearing of the case will be announced at a suitable time,” the bureau said in the statement. Accordingly, NAB has decided to immediately withdraw security arrangements put in place for the appearance of Maryam Nawaz, the statement added.

Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman and other leaders of the component parties including PPP, BNP had announced that they will accompany the PML-N stalwart at the hearing “in show of solidarity”.

Maryam Nawaz told media after a meeting with BNP leaders said NAB has become an institute of political engineering.

Blaming the NAB for targeting the PML-N leaders at Prime Minister Imran Khan’s behest, she said: “No matter how many press releases NAB issues, everyone knows it has become an institute of political engineering.”

She said NAB has withdrawn its notice fearing public backlash. “The people took strict notice of the political notifications of NAB," she said, adding: “Don’t use NAB to intimidate PML-N leaders; we are neither scared of NAB nor of your revenge.”

PML-N leader Rana Sanaullah announced calling off his party's programme on Friday after withdrawal of NAB hearing. He expressed gratitude to the PDM leaders and PML-N legislators and workers for expressing solidarity ahead of NAB hearing.