Daily Times

National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Chairman Justice (r) Javed Iqbal on Monday cancelled the summons issued by the watchdog for Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Shehbaz Sharif’s wife and daughters, and decided to directly overlook all cases against the Sharif family himself, a statement issued by the organisation said.

“The NAB chairman visited the bureau’s Lahore office on Monday and was briefed on the cases ongoing against the Sharif family,” the statement issued by the accountability watchdog stated. “Further, the NAB chairman cancelled the notices issued summoning Shehbaz’s wife, Nusrat Shehbaz, and his daughters namely Rabia Imran and Javeria Ali,” it continued. “The NAB chairman has decided that he himself will directly supervise the cases regarding the Sharif family,” the statement further said. “The NAB chairman issued directives to send a questionnaire to the Sharif family,” the notification said, adding that it “believes in complete respect of women and home.”

NAB chairman decides to directly overlook all cases against Sharif family

Further, the bureau clarified that it strictly follows the same policy for everyone and is an independent institution with no affiliation with any political party. “The steps ordered by the NAB chairman are indicative of the fact that NAB fully believes in the respect, honour, dignity and the sanctity of the four walls and the women,” the statement said. It quoted the chairman as saying that NAB is strictly following a policy of ‘accountability for all’ and that it has no affiliation with any political party. “All accused are equal in the eyes of NAB; nonetheless, all mega corruption cases will be taken to their logical conclusion on the basis of merit and only merit as soon as possible,” the handout stressed, adding that NAB is an autonomous institution which performs its duties without giving in to any pressure.

Leader of Opposition in National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif’s wife Nusrat and daughters Rabia and Javaria were directed to appear before a combined investigation team at NAB’s Lahore office next week to record their statements in a money laundering and income beyond means investigation.

Questionnaires will now be mailed to the female members of Sharif family

The NAB move to issue the summons had drawn a strong reaction not only from the PML-N but also from the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) as both parties saw a political motive behind it.

While the PML-N had said that NAB officials raided the residences of Sharif family, the anti-graft watchdog claimed that only a couple of its members had visited the family’s houses in Model Town and Defence to deliver the summons.

The anti-graft bureau had also written a letter to the Ministry of Interior requesting it to place the names of women members of the Sharif family on the exit control list (ECL).

According to the NAB press release, the female members of the Sharif family will now be mailed the relevant questionnaires.