Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on Saturday accused Prime Minister Imran Khan of blackmailing the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in an attempt to hamper the accountability of his close aides and government ministers.
Addressing a presser in Larkana, the PPP chief claimed that Imran had been exerting pressure on NAB for a while but no one expected him to resort to blackmailing to achieve his objectives.
“I condemn his attempt to defame NAB … why only a single TV channel which is being run by the PM’s adviser and friend aired the news,” Bilawal asked.
Criticising the government, Bilawal said that masses were bearing the brunt of the rulers’ incompetence, adding that NABgradi (NAB activism) and FIA system were scaring away investors.
The PPP chairman said that just a single Iftar-dinner that he hosted for opposition leaders at his Islamabad residence last Sunday was enough for the government to panic as “screams could now be heard coming out of the PM House”.
Speaking on the issue of recent hike in HIV-positive cases being reported from Ratodero, Bilawal said there was a difference between HIV and AIDS. Contracting HIV can lead to the development of AIDS in 10 years, he explained.
“There is no HIV outbreak in Ratodero or Larkana … everyone should get themselves tested for HIV virus,” he maintained. The PPP chairman said that he had also directed the chief minister to establish an endowment fund to facilitate those affected by the virus.
Earlier, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) had also hinted at the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government’s possible role in a scandal surrounding audio-video clips of the NAB chairman’s alleged conversation with a woman and has called for a parliamentary inquiry.
“NAB chairman in a recent interview said he was being pressurised due to which he had to travel secretly. Javed Iqbal had said he had been forced not to take action against government’s corruption but had evidence that could derail the government,” PML-N’s Senior Vice President Shahid Khaqan Abbasi said on Friday.
He said the channel which aired the recording is owned by an adviser and friend of the prime minister.
