Bilawal Bhutto Zardari accuses NAB of political victimisation

KARACHI: Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has termed fake bank accounts cases against his family a form of ‘political engineering’, ARY News reported on Wednesday.

Bhutto Zardari, while addressing a press conference in Karachi, strongly criticised the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) and graft cases filed against PPP leadership.

“Benami accounts [cases] are also a kind of political engineering; NAB was only formed to continue this policy,” alleged the PPP chairman.

Bilawal alleged that he was being [deliberately] pulled into fake bank accounts case through political engineering despite clear orders of former chief justice [Mian Saqib Nisar].

He questioned as to why the case was being pursued in Rawalpindi instead of Sindh where the so-called fake bank accounts were found.

“The [fake bank accounts] case belongs to Sindh; its (FIR) was filed here; the accounts exist in Sindh, then what is the reason for transferring case to Rawalpindi?”, he remarked.

Bilawal alleged that he and Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah were not being given the right to free and fair trial under Article 10, adding that the PPP leadership had faced ‘character assassination tactics’ on various forums.

The PPP chairman announced that a review petition will be filed against the verdict in fake accounts case.

“PPP wants a strong and independent judiciary system, and compromise will be made on 18th constitutional amendment”, said Bilawal.

The PPP chief said that his political party was ready to take to the streets for a long march to ‘defend democracy’ in the country.

He said that former prime minister Benazir Bhutto had finalised a plan to dissolve the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) and he himself was also in favour of reforming the accountability process.

“This is our failure for not bringing reforms in NAB. The institution should not be used for gaining political benefits.”

‘Offered Nawaz treatment in Sindh’

Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari said that Nawaz Sharif’s health condition was critical and that he had offered him for a continuation of treatment in National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases (NICVD, Karachi) and Sindh [government] will be honoured to host Nawaz Sharif.

Bilawal welcomed the statement of former premier’s daughter Maryam Nawaz, saying that she was fighting for her father in an exemplary way like no one else.

Agha Siraj Durrani’s arrest

Bilawal announced to write letters to speakers of the National Assembly and other provincial assemblies over matters relating to the arrest of Sindh Assembly speaker Agha Siraj Durrani.

“I will write details of the attack on our Speaker and province,’ he added.

He condemned Durrani’s arrest from Islamabad and NAB’s raid at his residence. Bilawal alleged that officials of the anti-corruption watchdog had violated the sanctity of house. He termed the raid as ‘a conspiracy’.

Bilawal asked NAB chairman to take notice of holding women and children ‘hostages’ and demanded an inquiry into the ‘torturing’ family of Agha Siraj Durrani.