Put Nawaz Sharif’s name on no-fly list, Aitzaz urges NAB chief

PPP leader accuses anti-graft watchdog of double standards in dealing with Sindh and Punjab cases

Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) senior leader and Opposition Leader in Senate Barrister Aitzaz Ahsan said failure to put deposed prime minister Nawaz Sharif’s name on Exit Control List (ECL) showed prevalent dual-standards in the country.

Speaking to journalists in Lahore on Tuesday, he said National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Chairman Justice (retd) Javed Iqbal is a hardworking and law-knowing person. “His [NAB chief] biggest test is impartial accountability. He should prove himself through provision of indiscriminate justice,” he remarked.

Citing recent arrest of former Sindh minister Sharjeel Inam Memon by NAB officials, Aitzaz said besides merit, manner and treatment must also be considered in court cases.

Nawaz fears coming back after seeing how Sharjeel was treated: Aitzaz

Accusing the anti-graft watchdog of double standards in dealing with Sindh and Punjab cases, the senator said PPP leader Dr Asim Hussain was given in Rangers’ custody and on the other hand, Sharif’s name was not even put on ECL. “This is double standards,” he added.

Aitzaz demanded that Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) chief’s name should be put on ECL on his return home from London.

The ousted premier, who held a key party meeting in London on Monday, has announced to return home before the next hearing at the accountability court on November 3. Arrest warrants have been issued against Sharif for not turning up at the court proceedings following his indictment in three different corruption references.

No PML without ‘N’, say leaders

Sharif was earlier expected to return to Pakistan on October 23 to attend court proceedings, but those plans changed and he proceeded to Saudi Arabia.

Later, there were suggestions from party's senior leadership that he would fly back by October 25 to attend the previous accountability court hearing, but that plan was also scrapped.