PML-N to take Shehbaz's detention to Parliament, stage protest

LAHORE: The leadership of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) on Monday decided to take the matter of Shehbaz Sharif’s arrest to the Parliament where PML-N lawmakers will stage protest inside the House.

The decision was taken during a Central Executive Committee (CEC) meeting of the former ruling party at the Model Town residence of Sharif family.

The meeting, attended by the party’s CEC members, decided to protest against their party president Shehbaz Sharif’s remand and Sunday’s press conference by Prime Minister Imran Khan inside the Parliament.

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

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.

Arrest of Shehbaz Sharif

On Saturday, an accountability court granted 10-day physical remand of 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.

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.