Pakistan
PTI govt 'embarrassing itself' in connection with Shahbaz Sharif NCA probe: Shahid Khaqan Abbasi
Lahore: PML-N central leader and former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi Tuesday lambasted the government, saying that it had embarrassed itself in front of the world with the British National Crime Agency (NCA)'s probe against PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif.
Flanked by leaders Rana Sanaullah and Ahsan Iqbal, Abbasi said the government's claims that it was not involved or pursuing money laundering cases against Shahbaz had been exposed.
He said the Assets Recovery Unit (ARU) and, as per the PML-N's sources, even Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) officials, used to go to London to meet NCA officials.
"The standard set by this government, when it comes to lying, is totally unique," he said. "The prime minister of this country, in his own office, creates an Asset Recovery Unit that has no legal basis. And what has that ARU done?" he questioned.
The PML-N leader referred to the papers in his hand, saying that they were official documents submitted by the NCA at the UK court.
Referring to the NCA probe against the PML-N president and his son Suleman, Abbasi said that normally in money laundering cases, financial transactions only six years back were traced.
"In this case, however, the probe stretched to cover financial transactions covering a period of over 20 years," he noted. "This inquiry was also not limited to just one country; it took place in Pakistan, the UK and the UAE."
The former prime minister said that money sent by Shahbaz from Pakistan to his UK bank account was legal money.
He said Shahbaz and Suleman had both given their consent to the NCA to probe their accounts. "Time and again, the NCA told the court that it has the complete support and cooperation of the Pakistani government and its agencies," he said.
Abbasi alleged that DG NAB Lahore, the ARU, FIA and other agencies were involved in framing allegations against the PML-N president. "And now, the prime minister of this country says his government had nothing to do with the probe," he said.
PML-N leader Ahsan Iqbal said that the government could not, till this day, find evidence of former prime ministers Nawaz Sharif and Shahid Khaqan Abbasi's involvement in corruption.
"Each case has slammed shut on their faces," he said, referring to the government. "You could not even prove corruption worth Rs32 in a Rs3,200bn project," he added.
Iqbal said that the government is failing the masses as it is busy registering fake cases against the Opposition. "However, your failure is becoming a matter of life and death for the public," he said.
Iqbal said the government itself was inviting trouble from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) as the prime minister was repeatedly saying at international forums that political leaders in the country are involved in money laundering.
"This he does only to promote his politics of hatred and revenge," he said.
'No mention of Shehbaz in UK court's decision'
Adviser to the Prime Minister on Interior and Accountability Mirza Shahzad Akbar said a recent order by a court in the United Kingdom did not mention PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif, adding that he had not been acquitted of money laundering charges.
However, in a virtual press conference on Tuesday, Adviser to the Prime Minister on Interior and Accountability Mirza Shahzad Akbar pointed out that there was no asset freezing order (AFO) against Shehbaz in the UK.
He said that the PML-N president was not mentioned in the UK court's order nor had he been acquitted of any charges.
Addressing a press conference here, he said the impression of Shahbaz Sharif and his son Suleman’s acquittal from the UK court in money laundering case was ‘wrong’ adding that order released by the UK court does not mention the acquittal.
Shahzad Akbar said the reports about the alleged ‘acquittal’ of Shahbaz Sharif or his son Suleman Shahbaz are incorrect and misreporting.
The Advisor said the investigation by the National Crime Agency (NCA) against Suleman Shahbaz and some of his family members was not initiated at the request of Asset Recovery Unit (ARU) or NAB, but Pakistan was contacted over the two suspicious transactions by the NCA.
NCA shared few names with Pakistan in this context. He said Pakistan responded to the NCA questions in this regard, but the case was not filed by Pakistan, he maintained.
The Advisor said the two-page verdict of British court was issued on September 10 and Shehbaz Sharif’s name was not even mentioned once in the whole order.
Akbar further explained that no case was filed against Shehbaz Sharif outside the country so the impression of PML-N to project this theory was absolutely wrong. However, there are still two money laundering cases against PML-N President in Pakistan, he added.