Lahore: National Accountability Bureau (NAB) office in Lahore turned into a battlefield between PMLN workers and police on Tuesday when Maryam Nawaz reached outside the bureau to get record her statement in a land procurement case. The fight between PMLN workers and police started even before reaching of the PMLN leader at NAB office in Lahore. The charged party workers started to pelt stones on the police party stationed outside NAB office for security purpose, which also retaliated in the same fashion, leaving many from both sides injured. The pelting of stones also partially damaged the widow pans of the NAB office. Seeing gravity of the situation, NAB authorities postponed the recording of Maryam Nawaz’s statement in the case. The NAB Lahore office had summoned Maryam Nawaz in a 200 acre land procurement shady deal reference and issued her notice to appear in person for recording of the statement. After the incident, Maryam Nawaz held a press conference in Lahore with other party leaders including former prime minister Shahid Khan Abbasi and vice president and member national assembly (MNA) Rana Sanaullah, accusing the policy of attacking her vehicle basically to risk her life. Maryam claimed she would have injured in pelting done by the police had she not used a bulletproof jeep today. She also claimed that NAB summoned her in the pretext of a land procurement case to harass her and add to pressure being exerted by it on Sharif family. She vowed that neither her father three-time elected prime minister, Nawaz Sharif, nor she will ever bow down to NAB pressure. “We will face whatever comes as a result of standing with the people who are facing worst time of Pakistan’s history as a result of installing a selected government on the helm of the affairs”, Maryam told the crowded press conference. She also spoke on other issues of national importance like performance of Imran Khan government during the first two year of its rule and called it as a pathetic period. “This selected government of Imran Khan had failed on all fronts including foreign policy, domestic issues and now its only focus is on the using of NAB against political opponents”. She told a questioner that PMLN was committed to Nawaz’s narrative of ‘give respect to vote’ and come what may she will carry forward the same party narrative. She was hopeful that PMLN will address the concern of JUF chief, Maulana Fazalur Rehman, to pave way for convening of all parties conference (APC) to present the opposition’s case before the people to decide the future of this county. Meanwhile, the provincial Law minister, Raja Basharat and Information minister, Fiaz Chohan, announced at a press conference to take action against the PMLN workers who were involved in unlawful act of pelting the police and NAB office. They said whosoever will be found involved in the act of violence on appearance of Maryam Nawaz before NAB will be dealt with iron hands. Later in the day, NAB issued a handout condemning the assault of PMLN workers on its office and the police. NAB in its handout said PMLN workers pelted its office in Lahore to stop it from recording statement of their party vice president. It added that the pelting at NAB office resulted in damage to the NAB building besides leaving many police and NAB employees injured. NAB handout said those involved in unlawful act of pelting the police and NAB office will be arrested as the first information report (FIR) against miscreants is being filed with the police. NAB announced to continue its performing its duty of accountability without taking any pressure from any party. Its handout said NAB is a national institutional and it never takes action against any individual, group or a party on the basis of political considerations.
