KARACHI – Former Pakistan Peoples’ Party provincial legislator and Sindh information minister Sharjeel Inam Memon denounced the dual standards of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on Wednesday.
While addressing the Sindh Assembly session, which Memon was allowed to attend in heavy police guard on Wednesday. The former minister declined from answering any questions raised by the journalists saying that he will clarify everything after the session.
Sharjeel Memon was arrested by NAB in corruption case a suspect in a Rs5.7 billion corruption case, was taken by authorities from the lockup to the assembly amid high security. He is on judicial remand until November 4.
On his arrival, Pakistan Peoples’ Party activists welcomed Memon by raising party slogans and throwing rose petals on him. The former minister refused to speak with journalists by saying that he will give his views after the session.
On arrival, the former minister was showered with rose petals and slogans were raised in support of him by his loyal Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) supporters.
Speaking at the assembly session, he questioned the accountability process of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), saying the issue of his arrest is still pending to be investigated further.
He went to on say, “At first they (NAB) arrested me when I landed in Islamabad even though I was able to obtain bail but again on the day [Oct 23], I was arrested from the steps of the court,”.
“My question is was that not contempt of court when the law says that no arrests are to be made inside the court’s premises.”
Memon called for explanation to be made about other people being put on the Exit Control List (ECL), he said “Let me inform you and give you example of how many NAB cases are currently being reviewed and how many of the accused are on the list,” he said, asking “Are the names of the Sharif family on the ECL?”
“Nawaz Sharif is out of the country, Ishaq Dar is traveling all over the world holding meetings, why are their names not on the ECL?”
“Now from the new chairman at NAB, I would request that he checks the criteria someone’s name on the ECL listed?” he further questions.
Memon raised the question that there was a “double standard” when it came to the Sharif family. “They are treated differently from everyone else in this country, and I want to know why.”
“There are a number of other points I can raise about my trial here, but this is not he forum to do that, however, I would still want to know, under what law hare the 11 people arrested along with me being kept in custody since here were no arrest warrants issued for them in the first place,” Memon said.
Concluding his address, Memon said that he is ready to answer any questions regarding his cases or him. “I would like to remind everyone that I was abroad when the references were first drafted against me, I could have stayed there — like many other politicians — but I chose to return to Pakistan and face these cases,”.
On October 23, NAB launched a crackdown against corrupt political figures and bureaucrats as part of the Karachi operation, Memon had fled the country in 2015 to Dubai just before the crackdown.
Former Pakistan Peoples’ Party provincial legislator and Sindh information minister Sharjeel Inam Memon condemned the dual standards of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on Wednesday.
While addressing the Sindh Assembly session, which Memon was allowed to attend in heavy police guard on Wednesday. The former minister declined from answering any questions raised by the journalists saying that he will clarify everything after the session.
Sharjeel Memon was arrested by NAB in corruption case a suspect in a Rs5.7 billion corruption case, was taken by authorities from the lockup to the assembly amid high security. He is on judicial remand until November 4.
On his arrival, Pakistan Peoples’ Party activists welcomed Memon by raising party slogans and throwing rose petals on him. The former minister refused to speak with journalists by saying that he will give his views after the session.
On arrival, the former minister was showered with rose petals and slogans were raised in support of him by his loyal Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) supporters.
Speaking at the assembly session, he questioned the accountability process of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), saying the issue of his arrest is still pending to be investigated further.
He went to on say, “At first they (NAB) arrested me when I landed in Islamabad even though I was able to obtain bail but again on the day [Oct 23], I was arrested from the steps of the court,”.
“My question is was that not contempt of court when the law says that no arrests are to be made inside the court’s premises.”
Memon called for explanation to be made about other people being put on the Exit Control List (ECL), he said “Let me inform you and give you example of how many NAB cases are currently being reviewed and how many of the accused are on the list,” he said, asking “Are the names of the Sharif family on the ECL?”
“Nawaz Sharif is out of the country, Ishaq Dar is traveling all over the world holding meetings, why are their names not on the ECL?”
“Now from the new chairman at NAB, I would request that he checks the criteria someone’s name on the ECL listed?” he further questions.
Memon raised the question that there was a “double standard” when it came to the Sharif family. “They are treated differently from everyone else in this country, and I want to know why.”
“There are a number of other points I can raise about my trial here, but this is not he forum to do that, however, I would still want to know, under what law hare the 11 people arrested along with me being kept in custody since here were no arrest warrants issued for them in the first place,” Memon said.
Concluding his address, Memon said that he is ready to answer any questions regarding his cases or him. “I would like to remind everyone that I was abroad when the references were first drafted against me, I could have stayed there — like many other politicians — but I chose to return to Pakistan and face these cases,”.
On October 23, NAB launched a crackdown against corrupt political figures and bureaucrats as part of the Karachi operation, Memon had fled the country in 2015 to Dubai just before the crackdown.
The suspects are accused of corruption worth Rs5.76 billion in the award of advertisements of the Sindh government’s awareness campaigns in the electronic media.
Sharjeel Memon was arrested by National Accountability Bureau (NAB) immediately after his plane landed from Dubai in Islamabad. However, the authorities released him after interrogation.
The other accused in the case include bureaucrats, officials of the information department and members of private advertising agencies.
Memon maintains the charges against him are politically influenced.
The suspects are accused of corruption worth Rs5.76 billion in the award of advertisements of the Sindh government’s awareness campaigns in the electronic media.
Sharjeel Memon was arrested by National Accountability Bureau (NAB) immediately after his plane landed from Dubai in Islamabad. However, the authorities released him after interrogation.
The other accused in the case include bureaucrats, officials of the information department and members of private advertising agencies.
Memon maintains the charges against him are politically influenced.
