Presidency denies Shahbaz Sharif allegations on loan default

President's spokesperson says Presidency has nothing to do with any information that NAB may give to the ECP.

ISLAMABAD: The President’s office on Saturday denied that it had anything to do with a news report which claimed Shahbaz Sharif was a loan defaulter, and thus ineligible to contest the general elections.

The President’s spokesperson Farhatullah Babar, dismissing allegations by Shahbaz that the Presidency was behind any move to declare him as a loan defaulter, said the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) was an independent institution under the law and was not under any obligation to take directions from the Presidency.

Babar said that under the law, the Presidency has nothing to do with any information that NAB may or may not give to the Election Commission of Pakistan.

"Any insinuation that seems to drag the Presidency into election related partisan issues is unfortunate and uncalled for."

The spokesperson said the Presidency was not involved in partisan political activity and its only interest and concern was that free and fair elections are held in a level playing field, in which voters are able to elect who they wish to see as their representatives.