- And the concerns they generate
The way NAB arrested Aleem Khan has once again led people to ask if the accountability body is balancing its enquiries to neutralise the pressure from political parties and critics. The wording of the charge sheet raises questions regarding NAB’s seriousness. Every charge leveled against the PTI leader is duly preceded by words like “alleged” or “allegedly” which indicates the arrest was made without proper enquiry, allowing the accountability body to clear Khan’s name whenever it likes without the least embarrassment.
Interestingly, and for altogether different reasons, the PTI, PPP and PML-N all agree that the arrest is a balancing act. Reluctant to accept that anybody in the PTI could ever be dishonest, Fawad Ch called the arrest an act that was aimed at justifying NAB’s ongoing actions against major opposition leaders who, in the eyes of the PTI, are facing genuine cases of corruption. He also said that Prime Minister Imran Khan was “unhappy” over the arrest. Khursheed Shah, on the other hand, called the action motivated by ill-intent. As he put it, the senior Punjab minister will soon be bailed out as the arrest without investigation would benefit him. PML-N Punjab leader Malik Ahmad Khan condemned the arrest as this had been made without proper investigation.
For the opposition, the sudden arrest of the PTI’s major financier on weak grounds at NAB’s office, his production next day before the accountability court where the area within a three-kilometre radius was sealed off with barbed wire and containers, and contingents of police, the Elite Force and Rangers posted along the route, and the court giving a nine day physical remand, were all scenes of a well-rehearsed drama.
Soon after his arrest Aleem Khan tendered his resignation from Punjab cabinet which too turned out to be a contrived move meant to put pressure on the PMLN. Fawad Chaudhry was soon to demand that Shahbaz Sharif too resign from the office of the chairman Public Accounts Committee (PAC). One PTI leader after another is using Aleem Khan’s resignation as a stick to beat the PML-N with. Would it not be better for NAB to voluntarily exercise self-restraint and collect actionable evidence before arresting an accused?
