No PML-N member asked for NRO, asserts Nawaz

If you have the guts then relay name of whoever asked for this deal, PML-N supremo dares govt

ISLAMABAD: Deposed prime minister Nawaz Sharif on Monday said no Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) member approached the incumbent government to seek a National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO).

"Nobody from PML-N asked for a NRO. If you have the guts then relay names of whoever asked for it," he said, addressing the government.

While talking to reporters outside an accountability court hearing the Flagship Reference against him, Sharif expressed his feelings about the death of his wife Kulsoom Nawaz.

"The only regret I have is to not be beside my wife when she passed away," he said. "I can't believe I was behind bars during such a pivotal time of my life."



The former premier added that everyone knows what he's going through after the death of his wife. "I'm not able to concentrate on politics as well."

When asked about his meeting with Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, Sharif said he respects Maulana a lot and matters discussed with him cannot be relayed to the public right now. "Need to meet PML-N president Shehbaz Sharif to discuss matters pertaining to the meeting with JUI-F chief."

The PML-N supremo shed light on how Shehbaz worked day/night for the public but he is still being punished.

"First they implicated my brother in the Ashiana Housing Scheme case when they couldn't find anything against him in the Saaf Pani case," he said. "Now they are trying to show his involvement in the assets beyond means case because they couldn't find anything against him in the Ashiana case."

Before concluding his talk, Sharif termed all of this a joke and warned that the public is watching every move.

The deposed prime minister appeared before Judge Arshad Malik's court earlier.

During the hearing, Sharif's lawyer Khawaja Harris continued cross-examining Panamagate Joint Investigation Team (JIT) head Wajid Zia.

The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) prosecutor objected to asking Zia questions of legal nature. Approving the raised objection, Judge Malik told Harris to ask questions related to the case only.

Zia informed the court that the Qatari prince gave conditional consent to come to Pakistan.

He said the JIT wrote a letter to former prime minister of Qatar Hamad bin Jasem bin Jaber Al Thani on May 13 asking him to appear before the JIT. "He refused to come to Pakistan to record a statement and instead asked the JIT to send him a questionnaire in advance which request was declined by the JIT."

Zia added that the JIT wrote another letter to Thani on May 24 and later the prince accepted an offer of meeting in Doha if the JIT provides the questionnaire in advance.

The court has made the Mutual Legal Assistance (MLA) written to United Arab Emirates (UAE) authorities part of the record.

Zia also relayed to the court that Sharif's son Hussain Nawaz presented a letter of credit supporting his stance that the machinery was shifted from Ahli Steels Mill to Al-Azizia Steel Mills in Jeddah. "But the JIT observed that the machinery was shifted from Hadda."



The JIT head further said according to the letter of credit, the machinery included a second-hand rolling mill as well. "Questions pertaining to facts about the shifting of machinery from UAE authorities were asked."

Zia also added that the first question was regarding whether the scrap machinery was shifted from Dubai to Jeddah and the second question pertained to the authenticity of the letter of credit. "UAE authorities only replied to the first question."

The court ordered the NAB prosecutor to submit an affidavit containing the final statement pertaining to the completion of evidences on Tuesday.

"The court will make a decision once the final statement has been submitted," concluded Judge Malik.

Hearing was adjourned till Tuesday.