Nawaz gives NAB chief 24 hours to come clean

• Nawaz says anti-graft watchdog has lost credibility and is damaging democracy with its ‘vindictive approach’
• Ousted PM says NAB’s inquiry based on a ‘distorted’ version of World Bank report is conspiracy against him

ISLAMABAD: Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif on Thursday sought an apology from the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) and demanded the resignation of Chairman Justice (r) Javed Iqbal if the anti-graft body fails to prove money laundering allegations against him within 24 hours.

He was referring to NAB’s probe against him, involving alleged money laundering of $4.9 billion to India.

Addressing a press conference at the Punjab House in Islamabad, the former premier gave a 24-hour deadline to the NAB to provide evidence and said that “the NAB has lost its credibility; its vindictive approach is weakening democracy.”

When the deposed PM entered the venue, he was accompanied by jiyalas yelling ‘Mian Sahab, We love you’ at the top of their voices. However, they were stopped right outside the main hall. A minor commotion broke out when they tried to enter the hall; however, Nawaz Sharif had to ask an assistant to go out and calm the supporters.

In a no holds barred manner, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supreme leader, flanked by Mushahid Hussain Syed on his right and Pervaiz Rashid on his left, read a pre-written statement where he pointed out the irresponsible and biased attitude of the NAB towards the Sharif family.

He wondered why the NAB chairman felt the urgency to issue a press statement late night on “a nameless press column”, adding that the World Bank had also refuted these claims two years ago.

“Conspiracies are being hatched to forge new cases against me and charge me in them. This is shameless pre-poll rigging,” the three-time prime minister asserted.

Further lashing out at the NAB, he said that the watchdog’s allegations against him were “shameful”.

“You shall remember that I was not named in the Panama Papers but whatever happened is in front of you,” he said.

He claimed that the joint investigation team made by the Supreme Court could not prove corruption of [even] a “single penny” against him. “But it had been decided to oust me and so an Iqama, a visa, was used to disqualify me.”

After Panama Papers, presenting a distorted version of World Bank report is a part of the same conspiracy, Sharif alleged.

“Does NAB not know that the World Bank had issued a clarification? Does it not know that reputed newspapers like the Wall Street Journal, Dawn, Business Recorder had reported on the issue?”

“Despite all of this, using an unknown column in an unknown newspaper published four months ago, was used to begin an investigation [against me].”

The disqualified prime minister thanked the media which he said had conducted a “post-mortem” of the issue hours after NAB ordered the inquiry against him and presented the facts.

He claimed, “People from my party [PML-N] are being told they should leave and join PTI [Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf] or contest elections as independent candidates and if they do not, then NAB will open cases against them.”

“There is a nexus,” he claimed once again referring to ‘aliens’.

Claiming that he is being targeted, Nawaz said, “90 per cent of NAB’s current cases revolve around us.”

“If there was any credible evidence against me then a judgment would have been made in 10 days and the case would not have been going on for nine months,” he upheld. Nawaz added, “They want to keep running cases against me till they fabricate and manufacture something to send me down.”

Criticising other politicians against whom corruption proceedings have been ongoing for years and they are yet to appear in court, Sharif said he has made almost 70 appearances before the court in the trial against him.

He further said he will not go to anyone seeking an apology or commutation of sentence. “I will not plead for mercy if sentenced,” he asserted. Responding to a question regarding ‘aliens’, the ousted premier said, “They are not visible.”

“Aliens have been present for the last 70 years and will now confront those present on the ground,” he added. The former premier said, “People on ground will defeat aliens.”

‘Will tell the whole truth but not in one go,’ he said while replying to a query pertaining to why he is not coming all out against establishment and tell the nation the whole truth.

Speaking about the alliance between Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), Sharif said, “The nexus goes back to Tahirul Qadri’s All Parties Conference,” in an allusion to the Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) chief based in Canada.

“Ask Imran if he voted in favour of the arrow [PPP’s electoral symbol] or not,” he said.

Interestingly, during the question and answers session, former prime minister whisked aside the question about recent statements by Chaudhry Nisar and his possible defection to PTI and didn’t comment on it.

‘NAB’S ACTING BEYOND ITS POWERS ON SEVERAL ISSUES’:

Earlier in the day, Sharif addressed the media outside the accountability court conducting corruption proceedings against him and said the NAB was acting beyond its powers on several issues.

The former premier claimed NAB was made by former president Pervez Musharraf to maintain control over state institutions. “These are laws made by dictators. It’s time we decide whether the people want to follow laws made by a democratic government or laws made by dictators.”

“Laws leading to the formation of NAB were authored by Musharraf, that is why we see NAB is acting beyond its powers,” Nawaz said, adding that the remarks passed by Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi on the NAB chief are “commendable”.

Sharif further added that the accountability proceedings against the Sharif family might continue for a long period of time. “These piles of papers have no substance,” he said, “Wajid Zia has been sending boxes of such papers for the past three months.”

In a direct jibe at the PTI chief Imran Khan, the former premier said, “A person who can’t be trusted, can’t be a politician. He shifts the influence of power as per his own wishes.”

Referring to the recent defection of PML-N lawmaker from Gujranwala, Rana Nazir, the former prime minister said that the lawmaker’s son did not vote for his party presidency. “Now I’ve learnt that Nazir is switching to PTI.”

“Defecting leaders of south Punjab aren’t even known by the public,” the former premier said while referring to the PML-N lawmakers that joined rival PTI.

Lawmakers, including former state minister of foreign affairs Khusro Bakhtiar, joined PTI and announced their decision in a press conference.