ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan People's Party (PPP) has decided to write letters to the foreign embassies and diplomats to apprise them of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB)'s policy of 'political victimisation' for anyone who raises his or her voice against the policies of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government.
"The PPP has decided to expose the NAB and its victimisation policy for anyone who raises his or her voice against the policies of this government. The European Union had observed that the NAB has resorted to victimisation. The PPP will write letters to the foreign embassies in Pakistan apprising them of the NAB's victimisation of opposition leaders as well as anyone who differs from government policies. The PPP also urges the international community to impose a ban on foreign travels of the NAB officials," the spokesman to the PPP Chairman, Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, Senator Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar, announced this, while addressing a news conference at the Zardari House on Friday evening.
Palwasha Khan, Khursheed Jonejo, and Nazir Dhoki were also present on the occasion. Senator Khokhar said that a report of Human Rights Watch on August 6, 2020 had also raised serious questions about the NAB's functioning.
He said that the report had mentioned the names of President Asif Ali Zardari, Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari and others including Mir Shakilur Rehman of Jang group who had been victimised by the NAB. "This is not the only international organisation that has raised questions about human rights violation in Pakistan by the NAB. The European Union has also raised questions about the NAB in the past saying that the NAB has become a tool of political blackmailing," he said.
Senator Khokhar said that according to reports, a journalist Aijaz Abbasi was tortured at the Press Information Department (PID) offices today (Friday). He claimed that the government was strangulating the journalist community's voice. He strongly condemned this shameful act of the government.
Responding to the questions, Senator Khokhar said that unemployment and price-hike were the two main problems faced by the people during the PTI's incapable and inefficient government. He said that the NAB acts against anyone who criticises the PTI government's policies.
Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar said that All Parties' Conference (APC) would be held soon and Bilawal was in contact with the political leadership of the country in that regard. He said that the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) required some legislation before it could take Pakistan out of the grey list.
He said that the PPP did not support government to pass those legislations; rather, it passed legislations after bringing amendments in them and considering national interest.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2020