LAHORE: Lahore High Court on Saturday stopped National Accountability Bureau (NAB) from arresting Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Hamza Shehbaz until April 8 (Monday).
The lawyers of Hamza met LHC chief justice in his chamber regarding NAB’s raid on the Model residence of Sharifs.
Earlier in the day, a heavy contingent of police accompanied by National Accountability Bureau (NAB) team reached at the residence of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Shehbaz Sharif in Model Town to arrest his son and Punjab Assembly Opposition Leader Hamza Shehbaz in holding assets beyond the meaning of income on Saturday.
It is a second attempt by NAB to arrest Hamza in 24 hours.
Meanwhile, PML-N workers started in large number at the residence of Sharifs and started a protest. The workers tried to go to the house of Sharifs as police stopped them. Resultantly, police and workers clashed.
Resultantly, NAB also summoned Rangers to control the situation. A heavy contingent of the female police officer was also called.
While talking to media outside the residence, NAB Deputy Director Chaudhry Asghar said that the team has come to arrest Hamza Shehbaz in assets beyond means of income case.
“The guards should let us inside the residence,” he stated, adding that police and NAB are here all night long and will only leave after the arrest of Hamza Shehbaz.
“We have the arrest warrants,” he said, adding that neither we are terrorists nor we have brought any weapons. “We fulfilled all legal conditions and Hamza Shehbaz should do the same,” he added.
NAB officials further urged the PML-N not to politicize this issue. “It is a matter of law.”
According to PML-N spokesperson, Malik Ahmad, NAB and police have surrounded the residence of PML-N president.
In her statement, PML-N spokesperson Mariyum Aurangzeb said that NAB is doing state terrorism. “Yesterday, Prime Minister Imran Khan said in a rally that he will put whole opposition in the jail and today, this happened,” she said.
Moreover, the secretary of said that Hamza Shehbaz is not a terrorist rather a respectable politician hence should be treated accordingly.
“We have asked our workers to reach Model Town,” he said, adding that PML-N is ready to face every situation.
HAMZA CHALLENGED NAB’s RAID IN LHC:
Furthermore, Hamza Shehbaz challenged the NAB’s raid and effort to arrest him in the Lahore High Court (LHC). In his plea, Hamza termed NAB’s raid unconstitutional and illegal.
The plea was filed through Amjad Pervaiz, who is the lawyer of PA opposition leader. “The court must dismiss the arrest warrants of Hamza Shehbaz immediately,” the application asserted, adding that court should take action against the monetary watchdog for contempt of court.
“The raid by the NAB completely illegal and against the orders of the court, the application further said.
Furthermore, in his statements from inside his house, Hamza Shehbaz said that NAB should respect the court orders. “NAB is crossing the line,” he said.
He further said that peaceful protest is the right of PML-N workers. “Police is beating peaceful protestors which is high condemnable,” he asserted.
PUNJAB GOVT NOTHING TO WITH HAMZA’S ARREST: GILL
Spokesperson of the Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Gill has made it clear that NAB is an autonomous body and they have no impact on these activities of the anti-graft body against Hamza Shahbaz.
NAB is acting under its own rules and regulations and the Punjab government has nothing to do with it. “Hamza should surrender before the anti-graft body rather than hiding himself behind the walls,” Said Gill. “The Punjab government will support the NAB,” insisted Gill.
NAB’S FIRST RAID:
Earlier on Friday, a raid by the NAB to arrest Hamza Shehbaz from his house in Lahore’s Model Town area failed after the lawmaker’s guards resisted the search, forcing the NAB team to return empty-handed despite a “warrant”.
The accountability watchdog sent its team to 96-H in Model Town– residence of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Shehbaz Sharif and his sons Hamza and Suleman Shahbaz – to arrest the opposition leader in the Punjab Assembly after finding proof against him in two graft cases.
Hamza was present inside the house at the time of the raid.
At present, former Punjab chief minister Shehbaz and his sons Hamza and Salman are facing multiple NAB inquiries, including the Ashiana-e-Iqbal Housing scam and Ramzan Sugar Mills cases.
NAB sources revealed that Hamza Shahbaz had declared property worth 2 crore in 2003 while his assets grew 2000 percent during the PML-N government. The opposition leader had illegally laundered 85 billions abroad, the sources told.
The officials claimed that they have already detained Sharif family‘s facilitators while more arrests are also likely.
