–Accountability watchdog will now send questionnaires to Nusrat Shehbaz, daughters Rabia and Javeria in illegal assets probe
LAHORE: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on Monday cancelled the summons for Leader of Opposition in National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif’s wife and daughters.
The cancellation order for the summons was given by NAB Chairman Justice (r) Javed Iqbal during his visit to the bureau’s Lahore office.
It is pertinent to mention here that Nusrat Shehbaz and her daughters, Rabia Imran and Javeria Ali, had been summoned for questioning in an illegal assets probe.
The NAB has instead decided to send the PML-N leader’s family members separate questionnaires instead of asking them to appear in person.
Nusrat was asked to appear before NAB on April 17, while Rabia and Javeria were asked to come on 18th and 19th, respectively.
The progress of the cases against the Sharif family is being monitored by the NAB chairman himself, a press statement said.
Hours after the NAB moved against his family, PML-N senior leader and Opposition Leader in 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.