Former prime minister Yousaf Raza Gilani on Friday refused to appear before an investigation team of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in the NICL corruption case, saying he has immunity and no one could arrest him.
Addressing a press conference in Multan, Gilani said he has constitutional immunity. “I’d see who arrests me,” he said.
He said that the constitution gave him immunity as a former premier and if the government wanted to finish the law, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif would need to amend the constitution in parliament. “I’ll support the PM in this exercise and then appear in court,” he added.
Referring to NAB summons, the former PM said that he was never worried with the judicial notices and declared handcuffs as his ‘jewellery’. “I am ready to face any court….It seems I will be the first political prisoner of this government,” he said.
Slamming former chief justice Iftikhar Chaudhry, he said those who took benefit from the National Reconciliation Order were acquitted by the courts. “Had Iftikhar Chaudhry been sincere, Musharraf would have been behind the bars,” Gilani added.
Referring to the judicial transition, Gilani said he hopes Justice Tassaduq Hussain Jilani will not become a politician.
The NAB issued notice to the former PM over alleged multi-billion rupees scam in the National Investment Corporation Limited (NICL). Local police delivered the notice at Gilani House in Multan.
Gilani maintained that he has always followed the constitution during his stint as prime minister, adding that if the government decided to put him in jail then one day Nawaz Sharif himself will go to jail.
He claimed that only he was being victimised under the garb of accountability, saying everyone should be held accountable. He said it appeared that the government wanted to put him behind bars ahead of the local government elections in Punjab.
Later during the day, Gilani’s lawyer appeared before the NAB investigation team and said that he would answer on behalf of the former premier since he has the power of attorney.
