ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N), the main opposition party in the parliament Tuesday demanded a new accountability body, a day after the Supreme Court slammed the National Accountability Bureau's "utter disregard for law" in the Paragon Housing Society case's detailed verdict.

PML-N senior leaders, Khawaja Mohammad Asif, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Ahsan Iqbal, Khawaja Saad Rafique, and Marriyum Aurangzeb, addressing a press conference here said that the SC had reprimanded the anti-graft watchdog in a detailed, 87-page ruling in Khawaja Saad Rafique and Khawaja Salman Rafique's bail plea, over various actions and processes, saying its "conduct throughout this case is a clear manifestation of their utter disregard for law, fair play, equity, and propriety."

Khawaja Saad Rafique said, "NAB should be abolished, following the SC decision the opposition and government should legislate for a new accountability body."

"There is no atmosphere of justice in the NAB," he said.

Rafique said that the children of those who had strived for the creation of Pakistan were mistreated.

"I was disappointed with the justice system, but this decision is a 'lighthouse' for me," he said, while referring to the top court's verdict.

Speaking at the press conference, former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi said the decision clearly states that the NAB "is not in the best interest of the country".

He said that the NAB's actions and conduct was against the basic human rights.

He said that the SC had declared the NAB law as utter disregard for the law.

He said that as per SC verdict the NAB had failed to prove anything against Saad Rafique despite putting him behind jail for 15 months.

"The NAB and the government should form a consensus over abolishing the anti-graft body," he said, adding that the "hollowness" of the accountability drama in Pakistan had been revealed.

He questioned how "NAB is quick to grab hold of the opposition but is blind to the corrupt ones sitting in the government".

"The opposition is thrown in jail for years," he said.

"The NAB chairman has served as a judge. He knows what his next step should be," Abbasi added.

PML-N Secretary General Ahsan Iqbal questioned, who will brought back 16 months spent in jail of Khawaja Saad Rafique, adding that his party has not surrender to political victimization.

Iqbal said that following the SC detailed verdict in Khawaja Saad Rafique case, the NAB must stop all the ongoing cases against various people.

"Justice prevailed in Saad Rafique's case, and it will be remembered in the future as well," he said, adding that the ones who seek justice will quote this decision in books.

"I salute the judiciary and this is the beginning of a process that has affirmed that justice will prevail in the future," Asif said.

Throwing his weight behind the journalist fraternity, the PML-N leader said that the party would use all options of protest available to support press freedom, inside and outside the assembly.

"Everyone should have freedom of speech and writing," Asif said.

The PML-N leaders said that he had taken an oath of allegiance to the Constitution, and that he would "fulfill it".

The PML-N has condemned the abduction of the journalist.

"Matiullah Jan was constantly making efforts for the freedom of the press and his hearing with the Supreme Court, regarding alleged contempt of court, was also due for tomorrow," the PML-N stalwart, Khawaja Asif, said.

"Taking him into custody at this time is an attempt to silence the voice of the media," Asif said, adding that the PML-N had always and would continue to support freedom of speech in the country.

The journalist was supposed to appear before the Supreme Court in relation to a contempt of court case based on an allegedly contemptuous tweet by him.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2020