NAB’s ‘discriminatory actions’ to create misgivings about transparency of polls: Shehbaz

PML-N chief calls upon ECP to ensure level-playing field to all political parties

LAHORE: As the country’s top graft buster tightens the noose around the Sharif brothers, Shehbaz Sharif, the former chief minister of Punjab, said on Thursday that “discriminatory actions” against political parties by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) could create misgivings about transparency of the polls.

“Such actions against candidates of political parties during the election campaign are inappropriate,” he said in a statement.

“It is imperative for all the institutions to work collectively in conformity with democratic traditions to ensure free and transparent elections.”

Shehbaz said the PML-N had presented itself in the court of the people who should be allowed to deliver their verdict.



The PML-N has contacted the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) under Article 218(3) of the Constitution as it was incumbent upon the poll supervisory body to provide a level-playing field to all the political parties for running their campaigns freely and to ensure the holding of transparent and impartial elections, he added.

The PML-N chief claimed that his party was the most popular political party of the country and was proud of its connection with the masses.

He said the arrest of Qamrul Islam during the election campaign was highly condemnable as it could put a question mark on holding free and transparent elections. “Keeping the political leadership out of the electoral process like this does not augur well for the country,” he added.

Qamrul Islam, the PML-N candidate for NA-59 (Rawalpindi-III), was arrested earlier this month by NAB in connection with Punjab Saaf Pani Company corruption case. Islam is challenging disgruntled PML-N leader Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, who is in the run from the same constituency as an independent candidate.

Referring to the disqualification of Daniyal Aziz in a contempt of court case, Shehbaz said the PML-N did not endorse the disqualification of the candidates of the PML-N and its opponent political parties.



A three-judge Supreme Court bench noted on Thursday that Daniyal is guilty of interference and prejudice against the process of law. He was charged with three charges of contempt and was convicted in two charges and acquitted in one.

Shehbaz reiterated that all the institutions should join hands to strengthen democracy in consonance with law and the Constitution. He expressed the hope that the people would give their verdict in favour of the PML-N on July 25.