Imran accuses NAB chief of going easy on Nawaz
Bokhari had said on Saturday that no such cases could be reopened, since elections were around the corner.
“The NAB chief does not have any right to stop proceedings in any (political) case,” said PTI Chairman Imran Khan in a statement on Sunday, adding that his party reserves the right to go to the courts regarding the issue.
“A top accountability institution should initiate an impartial inquiry into all such political cases…it should not be held back by the possibility of general elections approaching or any other political concern,” emphasised PTI Secretary Information Shafqat Mehmood while talking to The Express Tribune.
“Various options are open for us including the alternative to resort to the courts. We will take up this case if NAB relents,” he added.
According to a statement issued by the PTI chairman, NAB chief has made everything ‘clear’ by asserting that he had been asked specifically by President Asif Ali Zardari not to open cases involving the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leadership.
The government had earlier filed a reference against the Sharif brothers in a money laundering case, directing NAB authorities to formally initiate an inquiry into how around $32 million had been ‘siphoned off’ in PML-N’s second government during 1997-99.
The reference had been filed in NAB as well as the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) by the then interior minister Rehman Malik.
However, PAC had rejected the reference, on the basis that it did not fall under its ambit.
In his statement, Imran further stated that the people of Pakistan want a powerful accountability bureau, which can initiate political cases against any powerful politician.
“It seems as if the NAB chief has ‘promised’ to take it easy on Nawaz Sharif, while it is the nation’s wealth that has been plundered,” said Imran.
The top accountability forum’s duty is to aggressively pursue all such cases, he maintained.
“The argument that since elections are near, no further cases can be opened against politicians appears to be very ‘strange’,” the statement pointed out.
Rather, a thorough inquiry into all the graft cases becomes all the more necessary in an election year, it maintained.
On the other hand, PML-N leaders have maintained it throughout that the party is willing to face any case involving alleged corruption by its leaders, and that the NAB should go ahead with its probe.
“We have already rejected the allegations, terming these a pack of lies,” said PML-N Information Secretary Mushahidullah Khan, while talking to The Express Tribune a few days ago.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 2nd, 2012.
COMMENTS (48)
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nawaz zardai bhai bhai.................... mian saib has no personal bank balance no house no car................. so poor.............. i request the readers of express tribune to generously donate 10rs so that we can help mian saib purchase a motor cycle................ what a pity that a great prince of raiwind has no personal car..........................
for someone already hoarding all those bainami properties and no third party audit ever conducted of SKMT....this man surely has the nerve to accuse Chairman NAB
@Mr Imran. About time you opened your eyes. Stop living in in a state of denial. While it suits you politically to keep reciting pro SC mantra, it WILL hurt you you in the elections because your vote bank comprises the most modern and literate segment of the society . Like an intelligent person that you are, ask yourself, why doesn't the court ever pass a negative remark about Sharifs or their affiliates? Do yourself a favor. Be honest to yourself and to your ardent supporters like myself.
Is it not surprising ( & positive) that IK's single statement can trigger hot debates on intellectual level. THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT HAS BEEN LACKING IN PAKISTAN POLITICS. Can u imagine how many years we will progresss overnight once IK becomes the new leader of Pakistan!
@Zia: There is nothing absolute in this universe but Allah, IK can not be absolute right for sure. He may or my not be right in his point of view only.
@Curious: You are asking toooooo much. To busy for fund raising to be available fr this multan election.
@Noor: Therefore PTI will not contest next elections, they could not afford their party election. God help nice people who are missguided by cleaver leader.
@Ali q: You are right no one is talking about Nawaz sharif and PML N but only IK, the reason could be they are involved in lot of subjects their brain can think rather than stuck only one which GL S.P. told him, since no new guideline and advice thus keep talking only one which he knows. God bless us all.
And Yes action should be taken against Nawaz Sharif. He is as corrupt as Zardari.
@ pr sharma, Sir, most of the corruption cases against politiicians are politically motivated, Therefore stance of NAB is impartial and justified. Even if, NAB starts investigations now, it will take years to complete but it will surely damage reputation of politicians in elections. Its a very wise step by NAB to stay neutral and let the people of Pakistan decide.
yes! there is another n.r.o called (noora kushti) between ppp and pmln everybody knows that khan sab!
Statement of NAB chief refusing to reopen graft cases involving politicians before the general elections is hopeless state of affairs. No crime is barred by limitation ( graft cases before election is inadmissible) Great - Your signal has comforted all the corrupt . Now a situation may be imagined when NAB chief may also be held accountable for his deeds/omission. Demand transparency everywhere. may be this may help reduction in corruption.
@Pakistani UK is for Ullah Khan :) resignation of 1 or 2 members (IK's party) from the assembly is not going to make much of a difference you see, current opposition (so called) has got to take a stand, which is too late anyways.
Musharraf is andwill always be the better leader then this lot.
And what about pushing NAB to speed up Arsalan Iftikhar case too? Will our cricket hero come out with a statement on this please?
There is nothing new in Imran's statement. There is no end of his criticism against Nawaz Sharif. He is a short-sighted person. Nawaz Sharif is a true and bold leader. It was due to his boldness that Pakistan is a nuclear power. He could have earned billions of dollars in 1998 and he took decision in favour of Pakistan. I request PTI followers to open their eyes.
"A friend in need is a friend indeed" Mr. Zardari you proved that you are a true friend of NS as you are extending your fullest cooperation to your beloved friend near election, good work, keep it up. PPP and PMLN are two sides of same coin.
Shame on Imran. His politics is only to criticize PML(N). No other agenda. He has joined hands with PPP and MQM against Nawaz Sharif.
Khan Sahib, Why are you so negative? All you see are conspiracies!
Imran khan knows that the only mean for him to come in Power is to weak PML N. That is why he misses no chance of hammering PLMn. Most of the times his comments make no rationality. If you will ask him who killed Persident Kennedy, his most obvious response would be Nawaz Sharif. This tactic is not going to work for him very long. Now he has to tell us how he is going to bring a change in the life of a common man, rather keep on beating the old drums.
There is a good chance that you are right Mr. Khan.... But why pennies not dollars. Please a single statement on swiss case, rental power, etc. We are sick of your "N-Strategy".
Delay in justice is JUSTICE DENIED
Big brother is enjoying the support of younger brother.
Exactly. This needs to be highlighted. Unless we have institutions which conduct across the board accountability, we have no hope of curtailing corruption in the country, especially in the higher echelons of government. The current chairman NAB has, as others before him, disappointed the nation.
So many people are here commenting against Imran Khan for taking such actions against corruption. They all should be ashamed of them-self if they talk against IK as he is still a clean figure in our Politics.
At least there is a person in Pakistan who is taking stand against each and every corrupt Party and individual.
Think for Pakistan and hang all corrupt politicians, so that we all can participate to make Pakistan a great country and and example for the whole world.
Be Pakistan, Think Pakistan - Do your part for Pakistan...
Almost every department is lenient toward NS. Imran is right in this case.
I will only be convinced when PTI and Imran win an election. Till now they have only been boycotting them. All these polls are ok but competing and winning a majority in an election is something else. IK has angered every other political party and I cannot see them making a coalition govt with PTI.
@Mo.(UK): seem like you are in UK for the same reason.
IK you made too much hue and cry over declaration of assets..........so when are your party members disclosing their assets and their sources of income..........we are still waiting for members your party to announce what have they got and how they got it.............Other parties are all made of satans........you say, lets see how many angels you have got. we are still waiting for resignations of your members from national assembly........while you sing chorus for PML N to resign.
My modern day Quaid-e-Azam!
U will listen two words from IKs mouth: PMLN, Nawaz Sharif.... Come on Yaar.
NAB should actually probe more quickly into these cases against PML-N and other parties to show their real faces to the nation before General Elections, but here it seems like they want to fool this nation again to vote these culprits aside from all their corruption cases.
Imran is absolutely right! How come accountabilty be put on hold just because it is election year!!!
You have a valid argument Mr. Khan
IK, Instead of asking courts to clear your way to PM, why don’t you participate in upcoming Multan by elections? According to survey, you are the most popular politician in Pakistan nowadays and also your 2 beloved deputies are from Multan, winning this election should not be a problem for you!
@Alaa Qiadat: Crying for justice not for looting
There is no independent NAB No independent Election commission Not Wapda No railway NO local bodies.Is this democracy or kleptocracy
Since the elections are here no new corruptions cases will be opened Oh GOD please help Pakistan. Does this even sound logical. Nawaz if you want to help Pakistan rid of corruption so badly, please leave Pakistan.
@Alaa Qiadat: Do you fear that the truth might come out and politicians might be in hot waters? Hehehehe
PML-N and PPP have been in bed since day one. Anyone who belives otherwise needs a reality check. PML-N is not an alternative to PPP. If we make the mistake of voting them in, then we deserve another 5 years of the same tamasha.
Btw, did any one hear from the common citizen lately? The one who is burning in heat with no electricity and cannot feed his children.
Imran still has the illusion after 5 years that Supreme Court is not sympathetic with PML-N, or perhaps it’s hard for him to articulate this fact after years of shouting pro-judiciary slogans. Isn’t Mehran Bank scandal in courts for past 20 years?
Request SC to disqualify each and every party and poltician except you and your party, so that PTI could win few seats.
Can't imagine the leader of any other political party insisting on this. Haters can say what they want, Imran Khan's message has found substantial space in our political theater because no other party even had this message on their radar. Down with the corrupt and incompetent. - PTI 2013!
Always a cry baby!
lol, now this argument ? Common. Someone have phobia for sure.