Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N) has demanded a new accountability body, following the verdict of Supreme Court criticising National Accountability Bureau (NAB) over ‘changing political loyalties’ and using its power of arrest as a tool of ‘oppression’ and ‘harassment’.
Geo News reported that PML-N stalwart Khawaja Saad Rafique, addressing a press conference along with other senior party leaders, said: "After the Supreme Court verdict, NAB has no standing. It should be abolished. The opposition and government should legislate for a new accountability body. There is no atmosphere of justice in NAB."
While referring to the SC’s verdict, he said that he was disappointed with the judicial system of the country, but the said decision was like a beacon of light for him.
PML-N General Secretary Ahsan Iqbal said that NAB is being used as a tool for political engineering in the country. “Khawaja brothers were kept behind bars for no reason,” he said, adding that the anti-graft body should also release Jang group Editor-in-Chief Mir Shakil-ur-Rahman immediately.
Former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi said the top court's decision clearly states that NAB was not in the ‘best interest’ of the country. "NAB and the government should form a consensus over abolishing the anti-graft body,” he said, adding that the ‘hollowness’ of the ‘accountability drama’ in Pakistan has been revealed.
He also questioned, "How NAB is quick to grab ahold of the opposition but is blind to the corrupt ones sitting in the government?”
On Monday, SC Judge Justice Maqbool Baqar had reprimanded the anti-graft watchdog — in a detailed, 87-page ruling in Khawaja Saad Rafique and Khawaja Salman Rafique’s bail plea — over various actions and processes, saying its "conduct throughout this case is a clear manifestation of their utter disregard for law, fair play, equity, and propriety".
Geo News reported that PML-N stalwart Khawaja Saad Rafique, addressing a press conference along with other senior party leaders, said: "After the Supreme Court verdict, NAB has no standing. It should be abolished. The opposition and government should legislate for a new accountability body. There is no atmosphere of justice in NAB."
While referring to the SC’s verdict, he said that he was disappointed with the judicial system of the country, but the said decision was like a beacon of light for him.
PML-N General Secretary Ahsan Iqbal said that NAB is being used as a tool for political engineering in the country. “Khawaja brothers were kept behind bars for no reason,” he said, adding that the anti-graft body should also release Jang group Editor-in-Chief Mir Shakil-ur-Rahman immediately.
Former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi said the top court's decision clearly states that NAB was not in the ‘best interest’ of the country. "NAB and the government should form a consensus over abolishing the anti-graft body,” he said, adding that the ‘hollowness’ of the ‘accountability drama’ in Pakistan has been revealed.
He also questioned, "How NAB is quick to grab ahold of the opposition but is blind to the corrupt ones sitting in the government?”
On Monday, SC Judge Justice Maqbool Baqar had reprimanded the anti-graft watchdog — in a detailed, 87-page ruling in Khawaja Saad Rafique and Khawaja Salman Rafique’s bail plea — over various actions and processes, saying its "conduct throughout this case is a clear manifestation of their utter disregard for law, fair play, equity, and propriety".