Opposition submits privilege motion against NAB DG in NA

ISLAMABAD: The biggest opposition party in NA, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) on Friday moved a privilege motion in the National Assembly, assailing the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) for “maligning members of parliament”, ARY News reported.

Former prime minister and senior PML-N leader Shahid Khaqan Abbasi moved the motion, stating that the NAB’s Lahore Director General Shahzad Saleem staged a media-trial of opposition politicians in TV interviews.

“This is not about a single member but the entire parliament. A government official on the directives of the chairman of an institution has breached privilege of the entire house, defamed its members, and violated the law. If this house will not question him today, then who will?,” asked Abbasi.

Speaker Asad Qaiser said the privilege motion was as per the rules and added he would seek legal opinion on it.

Separately, speaking at a press conference in Islamabad, the former premier termed the NAB Ordinance a black law. Politicians are being insulted on the basis of trumped-up charges, he claimed.

Referring to the NAB DG’s interview, he said the Bureau officials disclosed confidential information and tried to malign the Parliament.

He said the accountability law is a black law which was instituted by a dictator and therefore, it should be done away with forthwith.

Abbasi claimed the Bureau was being used for arm-twisting of politicians and accused it of indulging in mudslinging against members of Parliament.

“We want accountability the country needs but this accountability should be without any discrimination,” he said.

While speaking in ARY News program Off the Record, the NAB DG said opposition leader Shehbaz Sharif will be arrested in more cases, adding that he gave irrelevant answers to questions put to him by the Bureau during interrogation.

He said the investigation into the Ashiana Housing Scheme scam has been completed and a reference in this regard will be sent to the NAB Headquarter for approval by the end of this month.