Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has termed the arrest of its president and Opposition Leader in National Assembly, Shahbaz Sharif, by National Accountability Bureau (NAB) as 'political victimization,' saying it is in violation of the law to arrest a sitting member of the House without permission of the speaker. Reacting to Sharif's arrest by the NAB in Ashiana-e-Iqbal Housing Scheme case, the PML-N parliamentary party, through a statement, maintained that the arrest of the opposition leader in the National Assembly without seeking prior permission of the speaker is 'against the law.'
"The entire nation is witnessing how the leader of the opposition [Shehbaz Sharif] is being treated. The entire world is watching the situation," it stated, adding, "Such tactics are not new for the party as PML-N leaders and workers had passed through such situation during dictator Musharraf's era with bravery."
"The arrest of Shehbaz Sharif ahead of the by-election proves the level of threat the government feels from the PML-N...the 'opponents' feel its political downfall if election in the country are held in free, fair and transparent manner," the party said. The party further stated that it is assessing the entire situation and would announce its future "course of action" in consultations with the central leadership.
"The practice of making an example out of the 'public servants' for just being political opponents has brought a huge damage to the country in the past as well," it noted, adding: "The unfortunate precedent of using the NAB against political opponents is being revived again."
The party further maintained: "China, Turkey and the entire world appreciated Shehbaz Shairf for his development projects, but the NAB arrested him. Portraying politicians as sign of corruption is enmity with the country."
Talking to the reporters, Spokesperson PML-N Maryam Aurangzeb strongly condemned the arrest of party's president, saying, "He was arrested without any proof and it is enmity with the country."
She also described the arrest as 'a tactic' to influence the by-election. She said the party had already faced such 'victimization' in the 90s. "No one knows and even the media do not know the 'evidence' under which media trial is conducted of the party leadership," she said, adding that the PML-N would not be 'blackmailed' through such 'tactics.'
She maintained that Nawaz Sharif's narrative would further strengthen through such 'tactics'. To a question about the party's future course of action, she said that they are waiting for the instructions from the central leadership, adding that a decision in this regard would be taken after consultations with the legal team.
She further said that the NAB should take notice of the statements being given by the government minister who, according to her, are trying to threaten the party leadership through statements. "If the NAB considers itself an independent institution, it must take actions against the government ministers," the PML-N spokesperson added.
Meanwhile, the PML-N also submitted a requisition to the National Assembly Secretariat for convening the National Assembly session. The party sources said that the requisition has been signed by 90 members of the House, seeking an early requisition of the National Assembly session. They said that the party wants to effectively raise the issue in and outside the Parliament.
They said that the leadership of various opposition political parties would also be contacted to formulate a joint strategy against the alleged political victimization of the opposition leader.