I call NAB officers to question me: Shehbaz Sharif
PML-N president says not a single penny’s worth of corruption could be proven against him
October 16, 2018
LAHORE: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday said he calls National Accountability Bureau (NAB) officials himself to question him.
Shehbaz, who was arrested by NAB on October 5 in the Ashiana Housing Scheme case and sent on a 10-day physical remand a day later, was presented before an accountability court in Lahore today. The accountability court granted NAB a 14-day extension in the physical remand of the former Punjab chief minister in the Ashiana Housing Scheme case.
During the hearing, Shehbaz recorded his statement before the judge and said, “They could not prove a single penny’s worth of corruption against me.”
“I call NAB officers myself to question me,” he added.
Regarding the last hearing when he was pushed around by a crowd as he was walking towards an armoured vehicle, Shehbaz said, “I suffered back pain owing to that but I am better now.”
Taking a hit at the incumbent Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government, Shehbaz said, “Their performance in the last two months has proven that the promises they made were hollow.”
Further, the PML-N president told the court, "When NAB called me the first time they said that I wanted to provide benefits to General (retd) Ashfaq Parvez Kayani's brother, to which I responded that if I wanted to do so why would I have forwarded the case to the anti-corruption unit."
"In 2008, when Kamran Kayani asked me to give him the contract I complained about him to the former army chief," he added. "I was accused of granting the contract and pleasing General (retd) Kayani, although facts prove otherwise."
"I verify NAB's statement regarding issuing verbal orders," he further said. "From my side, I saved money by issuing the contract and am grateful to God that I am known as 'Punjab Speed'."
The PML-N president lamented, "I am kept for 24 hours in a cell where light does not even enter."
Concluding his statement, Shehbaz said, "I am a Pakistani and proud of it. But I am also a human and have done a lot for this Punjab."
Meanwhile, PML-N spokesperson Marriyum Aurangzeb while speaking to the media outside the court said, “The government is scared owing to what happened on October 14 and till they remain in power they will be fearful of by-poll results.”
“The government’s non-diplomatic attitude raises questions regarding their performance,” she added.
Further, PML-N leader Rana Sanaullah announced that the party will protest in the National and Punjab Assembly against Shehbaz's “unlawful and unconstitutional arrest”.
