New govt will complete its tenure whereas Imran Khan will keep roaming the streets: Shahid Khaqan

ISLAMABAD, April 12 (SABAH): Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Senior Vice President and former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi on Tuesday urged the new government to dissolve the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) whose Chairman Javed Iqbal was “fully under the control” of former premier Imran Khan.

The remarks by the PML-N leader came a day after the party president, Shehbaz Sharif, took oath as the 23rd premier of Pakistan following the ouster of Imran through a joint opposition effort.

Shahid Khaqan Abbasi advised the government to abolish NAB and hold its officials accountable who allegedly tortured and looted people for years during the PTI regime. The NAB chairman used to take instructions from the previous government, he said, alleging a member of Imran’s cabinet used to direct the bureau chief to lodge fake cases against the opposition.

“The weak NAB chairman will now go after Imran’s friends,” he claimed, adding that the accountability watchdog had failed to file a single reference over the alleged corruption in Imran’s government. The facts about NAB will be brought to light soon, he added.

Abbasi said the government will move courts to seek the installation of cameras inside the accountability courts to expose the reality of NAB’s accountability drive.

In a comment on the protest movement by Imran, Abbasi said the new government will complete its tenure whereas Imran Khan will keep roaming the streets. He also criticised the former government for ruining the country.

He claimed that there was a minister in Imran Khan’s office who used to issue orders to the NAB chief regarding lodging fake cases, arresting people and defaming them. “This is your NAB chairman … who stayed quiet on Imran Khan’s corruption,” the PML-N leader added.

He also lamented that NAB couldn’t prove a single reference or inquiry against PML-N leaders in the last four years. “Why didn’t they investigate people who were involved in corruption worth billions [of rupees] and were sitting in the federal cabinet,” Abbasi demanded.

Now, he announced, was time to hold NAB accountable. “We are not taking revenge from anyone. We just want to expose the reality of NAB in front of the public. Accountability exists in the country but if you want to indulge in corruption, go to NAB,” Abbasi said.

“We won’t arrest anyone. Weak people like the NAB chairman will be the first person to arrested Imran Khan’s people. But this is not our way,” Abbasi pointed out, adding that the PML-N had always maintained its honour and respect in politics. Whatever happened in the last four years, he reiterated, would be kept in front of the public.