Shehbaz Sharif tells court he is being ‘blackmailed’ by NAB

The Leader of the Opposition and Pakistan Muslim League - Nawaz (PML-N) President Shehbaz Sharif told an accountability court on Monday that the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has 'blackmailed' him.

The PML-N president was presented before the court today, where his son Hamza Shehbaz was also present for the hearing. The opposition leader was brought to court amid tight security. A large number of PML-N supporters were also gathered outside the court premises in support of the in custody party leader.

During the hearing today, Shehbaz told the court that he was being blackmailed by NAB, local media reported. " I am a blood cancer patient and not even being allowed to get medical checkup," Shehbaz added. He said the NAB says they will conduct the medical examination after getting orders from ‘higher authority’.

The court extended Shehbaz's physical remand by 10 days and have ordered him to be presented on November 7. The bureau had requested an extension in the physical remand as it was expiring tomorrow.

On October 16, the accountability court had extended Shehbaz's remand by 14 days. Similarly, on October 6, the court had granted a 10-day physical remand of Shehbaz to NAB. The PML-N president was arrested on October 5 for corruption in the Rs14 billion Ashiana Housing case.