Will quit parliament if corruption charges proven: Shehbaz

ISLAMABAD: Leader of the opposition in the National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday said he will quit Parliament if the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) proves corruption of single penny against him.

Speaking on the floor of the house, he said the PTI government and NAB enjoyed an un-detachable bond, adding that even a man with no brain can see how people were being subjected to accountability.

He said the Bureau began a probe into the Ashiana Housing Scheme in January, this year but has not filed a reference against him yet.

Commenting on the chairmanship of the Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC), he said it was stated that there was NAB’s obstacle in the way of his becoming chairman of the all-powerful committee of Parliament. Didn’t that obstacle lie in the way of those sitting on the treasury benches, he questioned.

Is there not a helicopter case pending against Prime Minister Imran Khan and his cabinet members, he further asked. He said the opposition had nominated him for the slot of the PAC chairman.

The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) signed the Charter of Democracy, he said, adding that keeping it in view he had suggested the Imran Khan-led government to work together to strengthen economy and alleviate poverty.

He said the opposition floated the idea of a Charter of Economy on the pattern of the Charter of Democracy. “My suggestion was rejected back then, but now it is being backed,” he added.

“We are ready to sign a Charter of Economy today”, he offered and added the opposition would fully support the government to take parliament’s proceedings ahead. “We are willing to move a step ahead with you in Pakistan’s interest,” said the PML-N president.