Nawaz Sharif asks NAB Chairman to prove money laundering allegations in 24-hour or resign

Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif served the Chairman of National Accountability Bureau a 24-hour ultimatum to prove the charges about money laundering or step down. 

Addressing a press conference in Islamabad, the ousted prime minister on Thursday termed the watchdog's allegations against him as "shameful".

Nawaz said NAB had lost its credibility. “NAB’s vindictive approach is weakening democracy,” claimed Nawaz. 

"The NAB chairman should present all evidence against me within 24 hours," Nawaz said at the Punjab House. "If you fail to present evidence, then you should publicly apologize to the nation and resign," he demanded further.

چیئرمین نیب نے میری کردار کشی ہی نہیں کی قومی مفاد اور ملکی آبرو کو بھی شدید نقصان پہنچایا ہے.نیب کے چیئرمین بتائیں گے کہ انہوں نے کالم نگار کو بلاکر کوئی ثبوت مانگے؟ pic.twitter.com/GiuAH7fiQP

— PML(N) (@pmln_org) May 10, 2018

Nawaz criticised NAB for holding an inquiry against him and others for allegedly laundering $4.9 billion to India. He pointed out that the NAB claims were shot down by the Washington-based multilateral agency on the same day as its local office denied that allegations were leveled against the PML-N leader in its remittance report.

According to NAB, the World Bank’s migration and remittance book released in September 2016 carried information that foreign exchange reserves of India increased by $4.9bn after receiving the huge amount sent through money laundering, inflicting losses to Pakistan’s national kitty.

While the World Bank promptly responded to the NAB move and stated “the report does not include any mention of money laundering nor does it name any individuals”, the State Bank of Pakistan said the estimates showed in the WB report were based on “assumptions” which did not reflect the reality.

NAB's Chairman

Minutes after former prime minister Nawaz Sharif's press conference, NAB's chairman (Retired) Justice Javed Iqbal said accountability is for the country’s progress. “NAB doesn’t play politics of hatred, it is doing everything in its powers for the country. Accountability is not a crime, if it is, then we are doing it for the country’s progress.

“Politicians and bureaucrats don’t need to take offense when summoned by NAB. Your respect is intact even when we send notices, the bureaucracy has never behaved outside the law and the Constitution”, he said.

Courtesy to Dawn, GEO, Express Tribune, The Nation