Nawaz opposes changes to NAB laws so others can also ‘face the music’

PML-N supremo says hike in dollar’s rate not possible without prime minister’s knowledge

ISLAMABAD: Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif describes the accountability law as “a black law” but wants it to stay as it is so that “others could also suffer the way he and his family suffered”.

During an informal chat on Friday with journalists outside the Accountability court after hearing of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) references, Sharif demanded of the anti-graft watchdog to open investigation against Prime Minister Imran Khan for his helicopter use.

Sharif said that the NAB law was made by former military ruler Gen (retd) Pervez Musharraf. “It is a black law,” he said. “This law should remain as it is. We have suffered and the others should also suffer,” he added, taking a jibe at his political rivals.

The former prime minister also criticized the economic policies of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government. “The economy of the country can bear anything except for the incumbent government,” he said.



“During my tenure, the dollar would not go up by 10 paisa without asking me,” Sharif continued. “It is not possible that the dollar price increases without the knowledge of the prime minister,” he added.

Stressing that the rupee should remain stable, former prime minister told reporters that the present government blames that “we [Sharif government] artificially maintained the dollar rate, why cannot they [the government]”.

Comparing the present situation, with that of during his tenure as the prime minister, Sharif asked: “Were there any long lines at the CNG stations?” He said that Pakistan’s economy would not get better by U-turns, but with hard work and remaining truthful. “Truth brings blessings. Lies and U-turns take away all blessings,” the former prime minister said.

About his brother and former Punjab chief minister Shehbaz Sharif, he said that someone should raise question about how the accountability was being done. He called on NAB to also hold members of Premier Khan’s family accountable.

He claimed rigging in the general election. “Shehbaz Sharif contested from Karachi. Faisal Wawda won by 400 to 500 votes only. You know how he won the election. Just see the Fafen report.

He asked for what crime Shehbaz Sharif is being detained. “Is there any justification for the punishment he (Sharif) and Shehbaz are being given? Punishment was awarded while I was abroad. I had to leave my wife while she was in terminal sickness,” he said.

“What did they find in investigations against Shehbaz Sharif? Why Shahbaz Sharif is detained for two and a half months, he asked, adding that nothing had come out from the Saaf Pani or Ashiana housing investigations. “This is the reward for a person who worked hard for the country.”

Earlier, Khawaja Haris, counsel for Sharif, continued his final arguments in Al-Azizia Steel Mill and Flagship Investment references. He informed Accountability Court Judge Arshad Malik that the documents, for which an MLA [Mutual Legal Assistance] was written to the UAE government, were not available on record.

When Haris quoted joint investigation team (JIT) head Wajid Zia as saying that there was no transaction of 12 million dirhams, the judge raised the question how the payment due on Gulf Steel was paid. “Was there a bank guarantee or some other payment mode,” he asked.

The defence counsel replied that when Wajid Zia had disclosed such a transaction he was not sure about it. “Zia had told a lie that he had tried to contact the children of Muhammad Hussain -- a partner in Gulf Steel, he alleged. He maintained that the JIT had not investigated sale agreement of 75% shares.

When the MLA's answer was received, the JIT tried to make the Gulf Steel sale accord ambiguous by saying that the matter was closed now, he said. The JIT also avoided to include Abdullah K Ahli in the investigation process, besides not recording statements of witnesses of 25% shares sale agreement.

The defence lawyer said that the JIT members did not visit the UAE's foreign ministry and the Pakistani Embassy though the  two had attested the agreement of 1980 as per their stamps affixed on its back side. The JIT just stated that it did not find the record of agreement from the UAE court, he added.

The judge observed that there was no proof that Tariq Shafi was the "benamidar" for Mian Sharif, which was also admitted by the JIT. Mian Sharif, the father of Nawaz Sharif, had never stated that Tariq Shafi was his "benamidar", he added. The judge praised the defense counsel for giving such arguments and adjourned the hearing till Monday.