ISLAMABAD: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on Tuesday arrested Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) senior leader Khawaja Asif in 'assets beyond means' case which drew a quick reaction from party vice president Maryam Nawaz, who warned the government to immediately release the senior party leader or else "be ready for the worst consequences."
Asif will be produced before the accountability court judge Mohammad Bashir today for obtaining his transit remand, said a NAB spokesperson. After obtaining transit remand, Asif will be shifted to Lahore, he added.
Khawaja Asif, who is also PML-N parliamentary leader in the National Assembly, was arrested from Ahsan Iqbal's Islamabad residence after a party consultative meeting chaired by PML-N vice president Maryam Nawaz.
Talking to a hurriedly called presser, Maryam Nawaz termed the arrest of Khawaja Asif a 'kidnapping' and urged the judiciary to take notice of what she called the "NAB's terrorism," adding that the judiciary had already passed observations about the political role of the NAB.
Maryam also claimed that Asif had recently shared with her that he was approached by a government functionary to part ways with Nawaz Sharif and in return all the cases against him would be closed.
She further lashed out at the NAB, saying that arresting someone like this, in an asset beyond means case "is done when you have nothing in hand to apprehend him." She further criticised the NAB for its alleged silence over the sugar, wheat and medicine scandals.
Responding to a question, she declined to comment on the reported decisions taken by central executive committee of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), saying, she would not comment unless the PPP issues any statement or its chairman Bilawal Bhutto gives a statement with regards to the party's decisions.
Meanwhile, PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif also strongly condemned the arrest of Khawaja Asif through a tweet right after his arrest.
Earlier, PML-N vice president Maryam Nawaz chaired a consultative meeting at Ahsan Iqbal's residence in which the ongoing anti-government movement, the decisions of the PPP central executive committee, and the issue of resignations from the assemblies came under discussion.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2020
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