LAHORE: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on Friday raided the residence of Opposition Leader in the Punjab Assembly Hamza Shahbaz Sharif to arrested him on alleged money laundering and owning asset beyond means, however, as per NAB his guards resisted and foiled his arrest.
A NAB statement said that the security guards of Hamza Shahbaz resisted the arrest and subjected the NAB officials to torture.
NAB in a press release issued after the incident said that its Lahore team, armed with arrest warrants for Hamza, had raided the residence to take him into custody in the assets beyond means case and a money laundering case.
The press release noted that the Supreme Court has made it very clear that NAB does not need to inform suspects prior to their arrest.
It said that Hamza’s guards had beaten members of the NAB team, tore their clothes, and threatened their lives.
The NAB statement added: “Therefore, there has been a clear violation of the law by Hamza Shehbaz.”
“Those who interfere in NAB’s legal action and the operations of the state will be proceeded against as per the law,” the statement added.
Later, Hamza Shehbaz on Friday lashed out at the government and National Accountability Bureau (NAB) after a NAB team seeking his arrest conducted a raid on his family’s Model Town residence.
The PML-N was quick to denounce NAB’s version as “a complete lie, contrary to reality and an effort to hide its [NAB’s] own sins” in a statement released by the party’s media cell. PML-N strongly condemned NAB’s “illegal and immoral step”.
The statement further said that the party was in contact with legal experts and will decide its future strategy in light of the latter’s advice.
PML-N spokesperson Marriyum Aurangzeb alleged that the NAB team had entered the residence “without any permission, warrant or prior intimation”. She said that NAB personnel had scuffled with the private security guards at the house and then carried out a search of the residence.
A spokesperson for the Punjab chief minister Shahbaz Gill said that NAB is an autonomous institution and does not require the government’s permission to carry out any action. He rejected criticism of NAB by the opposition and claimed that the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf “doesn’t believe in political victimisation”.
He said the Punjab government will provide further assistance to NAB, if asked, as a constitutional obligation.
Dear TNT Reader,
At The News Tribe, our mission is to bring you free, independent, and unbiased news and content that keeps you informed and empowered. We are committed to upholding the highest standards of journalism, as we understand that we are a platform for truth.
Apart from independent global news coverage, we also commit our unique focus on the Muslim world. In an age marked by the troubling rise of Islamophobia and widespread misrepresentation of Muslims in Western media, we strive to provide accurate and fair coverage.
But to continue doing so, we need your support. Even a small donation of 1$ can make a big difference. Your contribution will help us maintain the quality of our news and counteract the negative narratives that are so prevalent.
Please consider donating today to ensure we can keep delivering the news that matters. Together, we can make a positive impact on the world, and work towards a more inclusive, informed global society.
Donate Monthly Subscription Annual Subscription
