Govt to highlight PML-N leaders’ alleged corruption

Decides to take maintain an aggressive stance against the opposition party

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan has instructed the authorities concerned to bring to light new ‘evidence’ with regard to alleged corruption of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz President Shehbaz Sharif and Vice President Maryam Nawaz.

This was decided in a meeting of the ruling PTI, chaired by the premier on Friday.

During the meeting, the participant s discussed new developments in the Chaudhry Sugar Mills (CSM) case. It was decided that these new evidence should be publicised.

The CSM is one of the many businesses owned by the family of the PML-N supreme leader Nawaz Sharif. The country’s top graft buster – the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) – in August last year arrested Maryam Nawaz for her alleged role in money laundering through the mills.

PM Imran pens letter to Shehbaz, proposes three names for CEC

Maryam was accused of “shady business transactions” at the CSM, where she is a major shareholder. She was, however, granted bail by the Lahore High Court (LHC) three months later in November 2019
During the Friday meeting, the PM laid stress on developing investigation agencies’ capability to detect and curb white-collar crimes.

“The government will not compromise on any corruption scandals and will ensure a fair accountability process for all. The nation should know the consequences for those responsible for destroying the economy,” the premier was quoted as saying.

Earlier this week, the federal cabinet gave the nod to place name of Maryam in the Exit Control List (ECL) on recommendation of a cabinet sub-committee in view of her alleged role in the CSM case.
Maryam is already on the ECL – Pakistan’s no-fly list – ever since her conviction in the Avenfield corruption reference in 2018.

Last month she had moved the LHC to get her name removed from the list. She had argued that her ailing father former PM Nawaz needed her care.

Nawaz has been in London since November last year after he was granted bail on medical grounds.