LAHORE – An accountability court on Thursday approved a seven-day transit remand of Shehbaz Sharif, the leader of the opposition in the National Assembly, allowing him to attend a session of the parliament.
National Accountability Bureau (NAB) officials on Thursday produced Sharif in the court amid tight security where accountability court judge Najamul Hassan heard the case.
The investigators requested the court to approve the transit remand of the suspect, stating that NA Speaker Asad Qaiser has once again issued a production order for the opposition leader to attend the session. The court accepted the plea.
During the hearing, the president of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), who is in the custody of the anti-graft buster in the Ashiana Iqbal Housing Scheme case, told the court that his family was not allowed to meet him by the NAB.
“I am suffering from blood cancer but my medical checkup is not being allowed,” the former chief minister said, to which, the court ordered providing health facilities to the accused.
“I have been implicated in a wrong case,” asserted Sharif, adding: “If serving the people is a crime then I will continue it”.
The NAB also pleaded the court to extend the physical remand of Sharif which is set to expire on Oct 24 (Saturday). But, the court rejected its request.
A number of party leaders had reached the court to welcome their leader while strict security arrangements were put in place with troops of Rangers, Anti-riot force and police deployed in the vicinity of accountability court tucked near civil secretariat.
The investigators seek Sharif’s transit remand after NA Speaker Asad Qaiser has once again issued a production order for the opposition leader for a third time.
https://en.dailypakistan.com.pk/pakistan/shehbaz-sharifs-production-order-issued-for-third-time/
Production Order
The production order for former Punjab chief minister would permit him to attend the upcoming session of the lower house of parliament starting from Friday.
The session has been summoned by the speaker on a requisition moved by the opposition which was signed by 88 members soon after the prorogation of the assembly on Nov 9.
The opposition has submitted a five-point agenda including discussion on ‘use of National Accountability Bureau (NAB) as a tool for political coercion’ with the notice for discussion during the session which is expected to be a boisterous one.
Moreover, government’s 100-day performance, the economic situation in the country, especially the alarming price hikes and inflation, the progress of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor and law and order situation in the country are also part of the agenda.
https://en.dailypakistan.com.pk/headline/nab-arrests-ex-cm-shehbaz-sharif-in-saaf-pani-case/
Shehbaz’s Arrest
Shahbaz Sharif was arrested in the Ashiana-i-Iqbal scam by the National Accountability Bureau on October 5. Mr Sharif had appeared before the anti-graft body in the Saaf Paani company case.
The arrest of former Punjab chief minister followed shocking revelations by ex-principal secretary to PM, Fawad Hasan Fawad, who has become an approver in the cases against Shehbaz Sharif.
