Govt won’t allow anyone to disgrace institutions: Adviser

Shahzad Akbar says Senate deputy chairman should not misuse his official position

ISLAMABAD:

Adviser to the Prime Minister on Accountability and Interior Barrister Mirza Shahzad Akbar on Wednesday said the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government would not allow anyone to disgrace the national institutions.

Talking to the media persons, Akbar emphasised that no member of parliament was a sacred cow. While referring to a speech of Senate Deputy Chairman Saleem Mandviwala, he said that the parliamentarians should not misuse their official position for personal benefits.

Mandviwalla, while addressing the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI), had said that it was the responsibility of parliament to look after the performance of the government. He added that NAB was set up to eliminate corruption and it had nothing to do with businessmen.

Akbar said that Mandviwalla should challenge court's order of forfeiture of his stock market shares at the relevant high court instead of targeting NAB. “There is no immunity to any parliamentarian and Mandviwalla should not misuse his official position for personal gains,” the adviser said.

He lamented that the opposition wanted to make the country banana republic. He added that the Senate deputy chairman had started targeting NAB after cases were instituted against him [Mandviwalla].

About the upcoming Senate session scheduled for December 30, the adviser said that the government would defend the anti-graft body in during. He emphasised that the government was satisfied with the performance of NAB.

He said the PDM was formed after failure of the opposition in getting an NRO, a reference to the political amnesty granted by former military ruler Pervez Musharraf through the National Reconciliation Ordinance in 2007.

“The main objective of the opposition is to seek NRO. The opposition wants to get immunity from its corruption cases,” he said, adding that the proposed amendments to the NAB ordinance by opposition were aimed at getting the immunity from their crimes which were not acceptable to the government.

Responding to a question, he said as per agreement with the United Kingdom, the transfer of convicted prisoners was possible between two countries. The UK government has assured considering the application of Pakistan to extradite Nawaz Sharif, whose visit visa application had already been expired.

Responding to another question, he said the amount recovered by NAB was deposited straight to the national exchequer. Some 25 new accountability courts were being established to expedite NAB cases, he said and added that the government would take NAB cases to logical conclusion. APP