'Complain as mush as you want, still not getting NRO'

Minister says those 'whose threats aren't even taken seriously by a mosquito, threaten state every day'

Taking a dig at the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) on Monday, Federal Minister for Planning Asad Umar asserted that the opposition would not be given an NRO [National Reconciliation Ordinance] regardless of how much they complain.

In a tweet, the minister stated that "those whose threats are not even taken seriously by a mosquito, threaten the state and its institutions every day".

Umar's remarks came a day after the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) chief Fazlur Rehman, speaking alongside Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Vice President Maryam Nawaz at a presser, announced that the workers of all parties of the anti-government alliance will accompany Maryam during her hearing at the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on March 26.

جن کی دھمکی سے مچھر نہیں ڈرتا، وہ ریاست اور اداروں کو روز دھمکیاں لگا رہے ہیں. بندے آپ سے اکٹھے ہوتے نہیں اور دھمکیاں نیب پر حملے کی. جتنا مرضی رولا ڈال لیں، NRO پھر بھی نہیں ملنا

— Asad Umar (@Asad_Umar) March 22, 2021

Further censuring the opposition alliance, the planning minister stated that, "You can't even bring people together, but threaten to attack NAB."

Read NAB summons Maryam on March 26 in Chaudhry Sugar Mills case

Speaking at yesterday's presser, the PDM chief had said that, "The reasons stated for the hearing have actually unveiled the true face of NAB. We have always held the stance that it is an authority that doesn't act on its own".

"During the hearing on March 26, millions of workers of PDM will be there with Maryam," Fazl added.
He went on to say that the masses have been suppressed by inflation and high power tariff, adding that Pakistan has been made to act on IMF's orders.

"The country is being made to act on such directions over its economic situation," he said.

Bail cancellation
On March 13, the Lahore High Court (LHC) accepted a petition for hearing by the NAB seeking cancellation of Maryam's bail in the sugar mills case against two surety bonds of Rs10 million each.

NAB stated that Maryam had been making remarks against “national institutions” which were based on “treason”. According to the authority, the comments were aimed at creating hurdles and influencing the investigation of cases pertaining to corruption and money laundering.

On March 17, the anti-graft watchdog issued summons to Maryam in the Chaudhry Sugar Mills case for March 26.

The PML-N leader has been asked to appear in light of new evidence found by the Lahore bureau of the authority.

A day later, NAB again issued summons to the PML-N leader for the same date, this time for the Raiwind land transfer case.