Shahbaz says will quit politics if allegations proven

LAHORE: Former Chief Minister Punjab, Shahbaz Sharif says all allegations leveled against him by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) are baseless, adding that he is not a defaulter.

During a press conference in Lahore, Shahbaz requested the caretaker government to conduct an investigation into the matter and said that he will quit politics forever if allegations against him are proven to be true.

Shahbaz said he had been falsely accused as part of a conspiracy hatched by a group of four people and also questioned why nothing was being said or done to those who had stolen billions of rupees from OGRA, Rental Power Projects and NICL.

On Thursday, NAB sent a list of names to the Election Commission of Pakistan raising objections over nominations of candidates, including Shahbaz Sharif.

According to NAB, Shahbaz is a defaulter of payment against a loan amounting to Rs 3,846 million obtained for Hudaibiya Paper Mills.

Shahbaz Sharif has filed nomination papers to contest the general elections for one National Assembly seat from Mianwali and two provincial assembly seats from Lahore.

The list of names sent by NAB to the ECP also contains names of Zafar Baig Bhaitni, Muhammad Makhdoom Gilani and Abdur Rehman Khetran.