President Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Opposition Leader in National Assembly, Shahbaz Sharif on Wednesday expressed his ignorance about Fawad Hassan Fawad's becoming an approver against him in the Ashiana Housing Scheme case. Talking to media persons outside the Parliament House after presenting his case at the floor of National Assembly, which was requisitioned on the demand of opposition parties, Shahbaz Sharif who is under the NAB custody, said he also had a meeting of two to three minutes with Fawad Hassan Fawad during his detention.
The PML-N president, who also shared lighter moments with the journalists before leaving for Lahore in NAB custody, said he was not aware whether or not Fawad Hassan Fawad, former secretary to chief minister (implementation) and ex-principal secretary to two prime ministers, has become an approver against him. To a question about his son-in-law Imran Ali Yousuf, who has been declared a proclaimed absconder by an accountability court in a NAB case, Shahbaz Sharif said he should respect the rule of law.
He insisted the he would stand by what he shared on floor of the House, saying the NAB officials during investigations asked him to become approver against former Minister for Water and Power Khawja Asif in power projects.
He maintained that efforts were made to create differences between him and his elder brother Nawaz Sharif, on the basis of their stances over recent political issues.
"This is not new, as similar efforts were also made during Musharraf government and even in former President Ghulam Ishaqs' tenure when people started talking about the difference of opinion," he said, adding that all those efforts failed to achieve the desired results. "Nawaz Sharif is leader of the people and we are his companions. We accept all decisions taken by the leadership," he added.
To a question, he said there was a need for reforms in NAB laws, adding the institution should ensure transparent investigations into corruption cases instead of becoming a party. "The accusations being levelled by Imran Khan and the questions being asked by the NAB are similar that's why I said that PTI and NAB are in an unholy alliance," he further maintained.
When asked if there is a need of any reconciliation in the current situation, he said that the question is not of any reconciliation but to think over the strategy to take the country forward despite various challenges. For the sake of country's interests, he said, all the political parties should be on the same page.
"But we have to be cautious and take lesson from the past, as the country is facing serious economic challenges...the government has decided to approach the IMF, dollar has reached a historic Rs 135 level and prices of gas and electricity have already been increased. This is too much injustice done with the masses," he added.
To another query, he said that 18th Constitutional Amendment was a sensitive matter and there should be no discussion on it until taking the small provinces on board. Earlier, Shahbaz Sharif was brought in high security to the Parliament House after the speaker National Assembly issued his production orders to attend the National Assembly session.
Party's parliamentarians and lawmakers from other opposition parties including senior PPP leader Syed Khrusheed Ahmad Shah, National Party's leader Hasil Khan Bizenjo and a delegation of Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) also held meeting with Shahbaz Sharif at his chamber in the Parliament House.
The PML-N also held a parliamentary party meeting briefly before the start of the National Assembly session to chalk out its strategy for the session. Shahbaz Sharif was later moved to Lahore by NAB officials after attending the National Assembly session.