Shahbaz accuses anti-graft body of colluding with Imran's party to target opposition

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's opposition chief Shahbaz Sharif on Wednesday accused the rustic's anti-graft frame of forming an "unholy alliance" with Premier Imran Khan's birthday party to focus on opposition leaders and vowed to proceed his political fight despite his arrest in a housing scam.
Shahbaz, who is the president of the Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N), addressed the National Assembly consultation convened at the Opposition's calls for to protest his arrest via the National Accountability Bureau (NAB).

The former Punjab leader minister has been within the NAB's custody since October 5 in reference to the housing scam. The National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser last week had ordered the NAB to bring him to the meeting after the opposition asked him to convene a consultation, Dawn reported.

Shahbaz, 67, thanked opposition events and leaders - specifically Pakistan Peoples Party chairperson Bilawal Bhutto Zardari for backing him.

"This is the first time in history that an opposition leader was arrested without any charges in such a hasty manner," stated Shahbaz, including he didn't wish to speak about the merit of the case towards him. "I want to talk about the unholy alliance between the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and NAB."

"During the election campaign, I openly said that and NAB are arm in arm," he stated

He identified that best PML-N participants had been arrested via the NAB and that his arrest came proper sooner than the by-elections on October 14.

The PML-N president additional stated, "Prime Minister Imran Khan is the product of electoral rigging."

Stating that it's been confirmed that the 2018 common election was rigged, he stated, "Either the July 25 polls were rigged or the by-polls were."

Elaborating on his allegations, Shehbaz stated, "Terrorism cases were filed against us on May 13 and NAB chairman prepared my arrest orders between July 5-6. However, the decision to arrest me was implemented ahead of the by-polls so it could serve a purpose."

"PML-N, PPP, ANP and MMA emerged victors in the by-polls on the seats that the so easily won during the general election," he added. "Even the seats Imran left vacant were won by us, which shows that the general election was rigged and there is no other explanation for such a big change in just two months."

He stated he expects the Speaker to upward thrust above the likes and dislikes and to do so towards intrusion in democracy.

Shehbaz, speaking about his brother and former premier Nawaz Sharif's jail sentence in a corruption case, stated: "NAB court's verdict clearly says that no corruption could be proven against Nawaz Sharif."

"Yet, he was arrested. He came back, leaving in the back of his very sick spouse who is not more today, to meet his moral sense.

"We wish to find solutions to this. You are the custodian of this house, Mr Speaker," stated Shehbaz.

"I'm not right here to argue my case, I'm not right here to cry, or speak about the merit of the case," he reiterated, but went directly to narrate details of various sides of the case.

Shehbaz also wondered the instances wherein he was arrested via the corruption watchdog.

"I was referred to as in for the Saaf Pani case but then instructed that I was being arrested within the Ashiyana scam," said the PML-N president about his arrest on October 5. "Is this the tabdeeli (exchange) that was promised?"

"Those who're fascist and do not obey the law, must take into account the end of Hitler and Mussolini."

The PML-N chief stated that he stays undeterred via his incarceration and can proceed together with his political fight.

"They know I am a stumbling block," he said. "I would like to say in all humility that I do not worry prison. I've always raised my voice in my own humble manner."