‘Economic terrorism’: PTI demands briefing on mega scams
Azam Swati says future of 180 million Pakistanis hinges on the NAB report
Azam Swati says future of 180 million Pakistanis hinges on the NAB report. PHOTO: REUTERS
ISLAMABAD:
A day after the National Accountability Bureau [NAB] submitted in the Supreme Court a list of top politicians and bureaucrats of the country allegedly involved in mega scams, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf [PTI] demanded a detailed briefing while terming the scams as ‘economic terrorism.’
Senator Azam Swati of the PTI raised the issue in the Senate and demanded Chairman Mian Raza Rabbani order a briefing. He also said that “if there can be an all parties conference [APC] on terrorism, then there should also be an APC on economic terrorism.”
Swati said that the future of 180 million people of the country is connected to the NAB report, saying “we want to know whether it [report] is a mere reflection of what the corrupt have been doing with this country.”
“We should be aware of the conduct of our incumbent as well as former premiers and senior officials,” Swati said without naming any politician or bureaucrat on the NAB mega scam list.
“My demand is not aimed at political point-scoring,” Swati clarified, saying he had not mentioned any name, in order to convince the chairman for a briefing over the subject.
However, Rabbani replied that, “the matter is pending before the Supreme Court and hence sub judice.”
He informed Swati that he can use other instruments [laws] to get further information from the government.
On Tuesday, NAB submitted a 35-page report on 150 mega scams that includes cases against Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, former president Asif Ali Zardari and other top politicians and bureaucrats of the country. Names of former PM Yousaf Raza Gilani and Raja Parvez Ashraf, PML-Q chief Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain and Chaudhry Parvez Elahi also feature on the list.
The report also states that since 2000, two investigations have been under way against the Sharif brothers on charges of misusing their authority in connection with the construction of a road from Raiwind to the Sharif’s’ family home, which involved misappropriation of Rs126 million.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 9th, 2015.
A day after the National Accountability Bureau [NAB] submitted in the Supreme Court a list of top politicians and bureaucrats of the country allegedly involved in mega scams, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf [PTI] demanded a detailed briefing while terming the scams as ‘economic terrorism.’
Senator Azam Swati of the PTI raised the issue in the Senate and demanded Chairman Mian Raza Rabbani order a briefing. He also said that “if there can be an all parties conference [APC] on terrorism, then there should also be an APC on economic terrorism.”
Swati said that the future of 180 million people of the country is connected to the NAB report, saying “we want to know whether it [report] is a mere reflection of what the corrupt have been doing with this country.”
“We should be aware of the conduct of our incumbent as well as former premiers and senior officials,” Swati said without naming any politician or bureaucrat on the NAB mega scam list.
“My demand is not aimed at political point-scoring,” Swati clarified, saying he had not mentioned any name, in order to convince the chairman for a briefing over the subject.
However, Rabbani replied that, “the matter is pending before the Supreme Court and hence sub judice.”
He informed Swati that he can use other instruments [laws] to get further information from the government.
On Tuesday, NAB submitted a 35-page report on 150 mega scams that includes cases against Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, former president Asif Ali Zardari and other top politicians and bureaucrats of the country. Names of former PM Yousaf Raza Gilani and Raja Parvez Ashraf, PML-Q chief Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain and Chaudhry Parvez Elahi also feature on the list.
The report also states that since 2000, two investigations have been under way against the Sharif brothers on charges of misusing their authority in connection with the construction of a road from Raiwind to the Sharif’s’ family home, which involved misappropriation of Rs126 million.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 9th, 2015.