Nawaz breaks political silence after Shehbaz's arrest

LAHORE: The Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) Central Executive Committee met on Monday to discuss the future course of action in the wake of party president Shehbaz Sharif’s arrest by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB).

Former premier Nawaz Sharif, who maintained a low profile in politics ever since his release from prison,  chaired the CEC meeting in Lahore.

The CEC meeting was called in the wake of party president Shehbaz Sharif’s arrest by the anti-graft watchdog in a housing project scam ahead of Oct 14 by-polls.

Yesterday, Hamza Shehbaz met Nawaz Sharif and his daughter Maryam Nawaz at their Jati Umra residence to discuss the younger Sharif’s arrest.

Salman Shehbaz and key members of the Sharif family were also present during the meeting. They deliberated the PML-N president’s arrest and available legal recourse to secure his release ahead of the Oct 14 by-elections.

On Saturday, an accountability court granted 10-day physical remand of Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) president Shehbaz Sharif in the Rs14 billion Ashiyana-i-Iqbal housing project scam.

NAB presented the Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly before the court in an armored vehicle amid tight security.

On Friday, the Bureau arrested the PML-N president, who is the Leader of the opposition in the National Assembly, inside its Lahore office where he was summoned to record his statement in connection with the Punjab Saaf Pani Company case.

Shehbaz reached the NAB office at 2:50pm. A combined investigation team of the country’s top anti-graft watchdog quizzed him for an hour over his alleged role in awarding contract to his “favourite firm” in violation of laws in the Ashiyana-i-Iqbal housing project.

The Bureau later issued a statement, declaring that former Punjab chief minister Shehbaz Sharif has been arrested in the scam.