The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Lahore has decided to increase security arrangements at its offices in the provincial capital ahead of appearance of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Vice President Maryam Nawaz on Friday.
The announcement by the graft-buster was criticised by the PML-N leaders, including Maryam Nawaz herself, who said in a tweet that NAB was afraid of her.
ڈرتے ہیں NAB والے ایک نہتی لڑکی سے! اسی نہتی لڑکی سے جس پر NAB نے قاتلانہ حملہ کیا۔ اور جو سلوک NAB نے دورانِ حراست مریم سے رکھا، اس کی تفصیل اور حساب ابھی باقی ہے۔ سب آئے گا قوم کے سامنے، ناموں سمیت۔ انشاءاللّہ! pic.twitter.com/WzKRkpXO8c
— Maryam Nawaz Sharif (@MaryamNSharif) March 22, 2021
PML-N Punjab President Rana Sanaullah said NAB should have courage to allow party workers to accompany their leader on her appearance before it.
A NAB statement said that after reports of a possible attack on its building on the day the PML-N leader is expected to appear, it was requesting the authorities concerned to declare its Lahore office ‘Red Zone’. It added it was seeking assistance from police and Rangers for the March 26 hearing.
NAB said the measures were being taken on the basis of reports regarding alleged plans of “some NAB accused, workers of political parties and other persons to storm the NAB Lahore building, pelt stones, create obstacles in the working of NAB’s officials, and to damage the NAB Lahore building”.
Maryam Nawaz has been issued a notice to appear before the graft buster on March 26 for proceedings in two inquiries, according to NAB press release. It added that NAB would continue playing its role in recovering stolen money without succumbing to any threats or pressure.
Read more: Senate opposition leader will be from PML-N, insists Maryam
Maryam Nawaz had already announced that she would appear before that investigators. Later, the PML-N and the opposition Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) said their workers would also accompany her during the hearing.
Sharing the NAB statement on her twitter handle, Maryam criticised graft buster saying that NAB was scared of her. “NAB people are afraid of a single girl! That girl on whom NAB made an assassination attempt. And the details of and accountability for the treatment meted out to Maryam during her detention is yet to come. Everything will be revealed to the nation, along with names,” she tweeted.
Meanwhile, talking to the media persons in Lahore, Sanaullah said that NAB should have the courage to allow PML-N supporters to join Maryam during her appearance before it. He urged NAB not to “put obstacles” in the way of PML-N workers, assuring that the party workers would remain peaceful.
“Our workers should not be stopped. When they (NAB) have summoned PML-N leader Maryam Nawaz then they should show courage [and] allow people to gather there to express solidarity with her and not put any obstacles in the way,” he said.
(WITH INPUT FROM NEWS DESK)
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