Shahid Khaqan Abbasi raises questions over NAB Chairman’s integrity

ISLAMABAD: Former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi on Tuesday raised objections over the impartiality of the National Accountability Bureau Chairman Justice (retd) Javaid Iqbal in light of his recent comments in an interview given to a journalist.

“The only propose of NAB is to defame politicians and put baseless allegations on them. How can the country run if politicians are always targeted,” said the veteran Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz leader. 

The former premier said that its ironic to note that Aleem Khan received immediate bail while Ahad Cheema despite several efforts wasn’t able to secure it.

Abbasi said that NAB Chairman should not give any statement which shows favour or discrimination towards any party, adding that in the interview Justice (retd) Javaid Iqbal said that Ahad Cheema's arrogance took him to the task.

"One shouldn't be arrogant but is arrogance a national crime," the former prime minister questioned. 

Abbasi said that the NAB chairman said that Nawaz Sharif and Shehbaz Sharif are seeking a deal and ready to return money. “Either the NAB Chairman is lying or the interviewer but in both cases, politicians are being defamed.”

The former prime minister said that the NAB chairman claimed Shehbaz offered to take retirement from the politics but on contrary to it the PML-N leader never met with him. 

"The character assassination campaign must stop now," he said. "The economy is in tatters and a big share of responsblity for it rests with the NAB."