Imran must apologise if allegations not proven, demands Hamza

PML-N leader questioned by NAB, accuses watchdog of bias

LAHORE: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader and Punjab Assembly Leader of the Opposition Hamza Shehbaz has said that that if Prime Minister Imran Khan could not prove allegations of money laundering against him, then the premier should apologise to him in front of the entire nation.

Hamza delivered his salvo while addressing the media outside the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), where he was questioned by investigators in connection with allegations of money laundering and having assets beyond known means of income.

Hamza accused the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) -led government of brushing corruption cases of its own leaders under the carpet, while using the anti-corruption watchdog to hound its rivals.



He also questioned the source and veracity of the information and data shared by the information minister and the prime minister's special assistant on accountability during a press conference on Sunday, while stating that they had been made.

"The information minister alleged corruption and kickbacks of Rs85 billion, which was a lie. Meanwhile, the letter sent by the Ministry of Interior placing the Sharif family on the exit control list mentioned Rs33 billion as the amount, while the NAB asked for explanation for Rs180 million," he said.

He said that the inconsistency in the numbers illustrated that these 'were blatant lies that were being ruthlessly spread by the government using the state machinery in order to clampdown on its rivals'.

He said that the figure of Rs180 million dated back from 2005 to 2008 during the era of Pervez Musharraf. "I didn't hold any public office at the time while my entire family was abroad. How could I then be implicated in corruption when I was not in any way involved with the dealings of public money," he asked.



Hamza stressed that he would prove that every transaction regarding the money in question was done in accordance with the rules and laws of the time it. "This is not the first time that such questions have been asked."

He said this method of political victimisation was first used during the dictatorship of Musharraf during, when the NAB forcefully took Rs120 million from him, which it had to later return after Supreme Court reprimanded NAB over the seizure.

Hamza said that he was revealing these details as he wants the people of Pakistan to be his witness. "If the allegations that I acquired Rs180 million through money laundering or corruption fail to hold up in court, then the country must force Imran Niazi to apologize to them for wasting their time and money on such false cases."

Hamza also inquired why those leaders associated with the PTI were not being questioned despite having corruption allegations levelled against them. He inquired why there was no development in the NAB inquiry against PTI's Aleem Khan.

Hamza went on to say that he would continue to appear before the NAB, despite the watchdog's 'politically motivated' actions against him and family such as the raid on his residence and the issuance of summons to the women of his family.

"I am not worried about these allegations or appearances. What has really got me worried is the tsunami of inflation, price hike and unemployment that is about to hit the people of Pakistan," he said, while criticising the prime minister over the state of the economy.

"Medicine prices have shot up by over 400 per cent. Children are dying while Niazi is resorting to gimmickry to distract the people. But they won't let you (Imran Khan) hide. You will be held accountable for the havoc that you've wreaked upon this country," Hamza warned.

He added that the re-appointment of Shehbaz Sharif era bureaucrats in Punjab was proof that the PTI lacked the ability and competence. "This act of PTI is the evidence that only Shehbaz Sharif knew how to successfully run the most populous province of Pakistan," he said.