–PTI govt taking “political revenge under the pretext of accountability”, alleges Senator Sherry Rehman
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leadership, during Friday’s Senate session, voiced their concerns over an alleged meeting between Prime Minister’s Special Advisor on Accountability Shahzad Akbar and members of a joint investigation team (JIT) to probe money laundering allegations against former president Asif Ali Zardari and others.
PPP stalwart Sherry Rehman, also the leader of the opposition in Senate, alleged that the government was taking “political revenge under the pretext of accountability”.
“There are reports that Akbar met with members of the JIT,” she claimed. “The JIT was constituted for Asif Ali Zardari and Faryal Talpur.”
The PPP leader alleged that a “conspiracy is being hatched”, and claimed that the case witnesses had also attended the rumoured meeting.
“Prove that Shahzad Akbar was not at the FIA office,” she challenged the treasury benches.
Akbar, meanwhile, took to Twitter to denied to meeting the JIT members on December 19 but acknowledged that he interacts with the officials from the FIA and other agencies on a daily basis “for our work under Assets Recovery Unit”.
Thanks @SaeedGhani1 n out of respect for you, I categorically deny meeting JIT n specifically on 19 December, FIA n it’s DG (additionally NAB, FBR & FMU/SBP) interacts with me n my office on daily basis for our work under Assets Recovery Unit. https://t.co/cn3sit2qpH
— Mirza Shahzad Akbar (@ShazadAkbar) December 21, 2018
“My mother was admitted in Shifa Hospital in the emergency and I was with her,” he said while rejecting the claim.
Addressing a press conference in Karachi on Friday, Maula Bux Chandio asked the government to tell how they had prior knowledge of the decision of the court and JIT.
Chandio said that the government was only hurling accusations and not performing its duties, adding that the ministers only talk about chaos.
“The government should reveal if it has evidence,” he said and added that those who were sending others to Adiala jail will also go there eventually.
Speaking on the occasion, Nafisa Shah said that Prime Minister Imran Khan sent Akbar to meet JIT members. She made an appeal to Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Justice Mian Saqib Nisar to take notice.
On the other hand, Saeed Ghani said that the ruling party was only targeting PPP leaders through inquiries and arrests. He alleged that NAB had no courage to take action in the case pertaining to offshore property of PM Imran Khan’s sister Aleema Khan.