LAHORE: The National Accountability Bureau’s (NAB) team left Leader of the Opposition in National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif’s Model Town residence after staying outside for hours as a heavy contingent of police officers blocked media personnel and protesting party workers with a barricade.
The NAB team and police officer had earlier today reached the PML-N president’s residence in an attempt to arrest him.
Several party workers had also reached Shehbaz’s residence to protest against the NAB; meanwhile, barricades were set up in the area and media personnel was not being allowed to go near his residence.
According to report, a four-member team including three women officers and led by NAB Deputy Director Chaudhry Muhammad Asghar was at the site.
It was unclear what the aim of the NAB team’s visit to Shehbaz’s residence was.
The PML-N president skipped a NAB hearing over a case of assets beyond means earlier today at 11 am. Instead, in his response to the anti-graft watchdog said its team could question him via Skype because he was old and did not wish to pose a risk to his health amid the coronavirus pandemic.
In the response, the PML-N president said the coronavirus cases were rising and the pandemic was nearing its peak. He added that some of the NAB’s officers had tested positive for the deadly respiratory illness as well.
Shehbaz said he was 69 years old and a cancer survivor; therefore, the NAB’s investigative team could question him via Skype.
Speaking on the developments in Lahore’s Model Town, PML-N leader Rana Sanaullah said the actions of police and the NAB fell under “contempt of the court”.
The high court, he added, has already scheduled a hearing for the case at 11am tomorrow. Such behaviour was indicative of the “government’s confusion”, Sanaullah said.
“The whole nation is concerned over the coronavirus pandemic and locusts’ attack but the rulers are engaged in vindictive actions,” he said.
Malik Ahmed Khan, another PML-N leader, said the anti-corruption body was showing “complete political revenge” and the government was doing so to fulfill its political goals.
“Shehbaz Sharif has always honoured the law and answered the NAB’s questions. The NAB’s actions lay bare the government’s intentions,” Khan said, adding that the anti-graft watchdog had been informed that Shehbaz and his team wished to respond to everything.
The PML-N leader further claimed the incumbent PTI-led government was engaging in such actions to hide its weaknesses in the upcoming budget.
