NAB arrests Shehbaz Sharif
Monitoring Desk:
The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) arrested former chief minister of Punjab, Shehbaz Sharif in Lahore. A division bench of the Lahore High Court (LHC) rejected the interim bail of the former chief minister, Shehbaz Sharif in a money laundering case.
NAB arrested the PML (N) leader in the money laundering case in Lahore. Shehbaz Sharif appeared before the LHC division bench, which rejected his interim bail in the money laundering case.
During the arrest, leaders of the PML (N) including Ahsan Iqbal, Maryam Aurangzai and other leaders were also present inside the court.
Shehbaz’s Counsel
Shehbaz’s legal counsel Azam Nazir Tarar said the PML-N president’s arrest at this stage of the case could not be justified and added: “NAB’s dishonesty is apparent everywhere.”
Tarar told the court that the former Punjab chief minister had done a net saving of Rs81 billion in the Orange Line Train Project and Rs400 million in the taxi project. Collectively, Tarar said, Shehbaz had saved Rs1 trillion in net savings.
Shibli Faraz, the federal information minister
Shibli Faraz, the federal information minister said the reference with regard to the money laundering case should not be turned into a political case. Mr. Faraz was speaking to a private TV channel.
Shehbaz Sharif’s arrest has come 10 days after the All Parties Conference (APC) where the opposition political parties announced to launch a country-wide protest against the government.
NAB arrests Shehbaz Sharif
Maryam reacts to Shehbaz’s arrest
PML N Vice-President Maryam Nawaz Sharif has strongly condemned the arrest of Shehbaz Sharif and termed it as political victimization. She was addressing a press conference along with another high command of party leadership that condemned the arrest of Shehbaz Sharif.
Maryam said today was a “very sad day” because the opposition leader had been arrested again.
“I don’t have a grain of doubt that Shehbaz Sharif was not arrested for corruption or accountability. A reference against him was ongoing and he was arrested in the middle,” she said, adding that the only reason Shehbaz was arrested was that he “has not left his brother’s side”.
