–Bilawal condemns ‘selected’ govt’s ‘witch-hunt’ against elected representatives
–Maryam expresses disappointment at arrest of ‘another elected premier’
–Iqbal says NAB only capable of acting against PML-N
ISLAMABAD: Opposition leaders on Thursday denounced the arrest of former premier Shahid Khaqan Abbasi by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in a case pertaining to illegal award of liquefied natural gas (LGN) contract.
Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zadari condemned the arrest, terming it as part of the “witch-hunt of selected government against elected representatives”.
In a statement issued after Abbasi’s arrest, the PPP chief said that the “selected government wants to hide its utter failures by detaining and arresting political opponents but the protests against its continuous attacks on the national economy would not end”.
Bilawal said that “selective accountability by the selected government” would never be accepted despite the use of “illegal and unconstitutional tools” against the joint opposition. He demanded release of the former premier.
Meanwhile, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Vice President Maryam Nawaz said that another prime minister who was elected by people’s votes had been arrested.
Taking to Twitter after Abbasi’s arrest, she said asked whether “lawlessness, humiliation and injustice be the fate of all those who are elected by vote”.
“An elected representative is just a victim of a photocopied page of a notorious institution,” she said.
Former interior minister Ahsan Iqbal compared Prime Minister Imran Khan with Nazi leader Adolf Hitler, saying PML-N would not allow him to become “Pakistan’s Hitler”.
“Is every civilian a terrorist here?” We can sacrifice our lives but, we will not deviate from the path of exposing this government for what it is,” he said.
Iqbal also suggested changing NAB’s name to ‘Nawaz-League Accountability Bureau’ as the bureau is “only capable of acting against PML-N”.
“NAB does not question the government. Half of the cabinet members have references registered against them, but they are not arrested. Does NAB have the courage to seek out Imran Niazi in the helicopter case?” he asked.
