–Ex-Punjab CM’s wife Nusrat summoned in illegal assets probe on April 17, daughters Rabia and Javeria on 18th and 19th, respectively
–NAB also recommends putting Sharif women’s names on PNIL to bar them from going abroad
–Hamza lashes out at NAB, says ‘the way watchdog operates is disgraceful to people’
–NAB denies it raided residence of Shehbaz’s daughter, says team only went there to hand over notice
LAHORE: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has summoned ex-Punjab chief minister Shehbaz Sharif’s wife and his two daughters in the assets beyond means case, triggering an angry reaction from the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N).
Nusrat Shehbaz has been asked to appear personally before NAB Lahore on April 17, whereas, Rabia will appear on 18th and Javeria will appear on 19th. The accountability watchdog has also recommended to put their names on the Provisional National Identification List (PNIL), barring them from leaving the country.
Hours after the NAB moved against his family, PML-N senior leader and Opposition Leader in the Punjab Assembly Hamza Shehbaz said the way the accountability watchdog operated was a disgrace to the people.
Addressing a press conference, Hamza said, “NAB has been politicised and it has become clear that it’s a tool being used by the government to victimise us.”
The PML-N leader said the anti-graft body was quick to issue notices to the Sharif family “but quivers to take action against the flagrant corruption perpetrated by the leaders sitting in the government”.
The government, he said, had not only ruined the economy but also broken the back of the public with the increase in utility prices.
PML-N Spokesperson Marriyum Aurangzeb also questioned the constitutional validity of the action.
“What kind of accountability is this? How can one raid at someone’s residential place without giving notice,” she asked.
Responding to allegations hurled by Hamza and Marriyum, a NAB press release stated that the bureau’s team went to the residence to serve the notice for April 16.
It said the only police vehicle there was for the security of the team and the residence of the opposition leader’s daughter was not raided. The NAB Lahore said there was no truth in reports of a laying siege to the residence.
“Some individuals have been doing baseless propaganda to malign the NAB,” it said in the statement, adding that investigations were ongoing pertaining to assets beyond means and money laundering cases against the Sharif family.
Both Hamza and Shehbaz are accused of corruption in different cases, including money laundering and misuse of authority.
Hamza has already been asked to appear on April 15 in connection with Chiniot drain case and in assets beyond means case on April 17.
According to sources, Hamza was asked questions about money trail of his assets. He was asked about his assets which were worth Rs20 million in 2003 but reached over Rs400 million in 2018. Hamza replied that he has different businesses and different sources of income. He also provided some documents as well to justify his claim.
Moreover, the NAB team also questioned Hamza about his relationship with a suspect named Fazal Dad. Hamza replied that many people work in their business concerns.
