ISLAMABAD (92 News) – Pakistan Peoples’ Party (PPP) MNA Shazia Marri on Monday asked the National Assembly (NA) Speaker Asad Qaiser to ensure the presence of Zardari in the assembly and issue his production orders.
During a National Assembly session today, Marri asked the NA speaker when he would issue Zardari’s production orders.
“Zardari is a member of this House and a former president,” she told Qaiser. “The members look towards the speaker for the protection of the rights of MNAs as Qaiser is the custodian of the house.”
She demanded the speaker to issue immediately Zardari’s production orders.
‘NAB is harassing Asif Ali Zardari’
Shazia Marri accused the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) of harassing PPP co-chairperson Asif Ali Zardari after the Islamabad High Court (IHC) denied the former president’s bail plea in a fake accounts case.
“NAB is harassing Asif Ali Zardari," a visibly charged Marri declared. “In this situation, how will you protect him, when will you issue his production orders?”
Govt is victimising opposition parties
She claimed that opposition members were being facing discrimination and pointed out that members of government were also nominated in NAB cases.
She asked if he can ensure that Zardari is able to attend today’s session. “We are looking at your chair, your position and the sanctity of your position. You should work as a custodian and not engage in delaying tactics,” she said.
Former prime minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf also asked the speaker to issue production orders for Zardari and suspend Assembly proceedings until he arrives.
Govt cannot interfere in NAB’s matters: Interior minister
Responding to the Marri’s speech, Brig (retd) Ijaz Ahmed Shah remarked that the government has nothing to do with
NAB’s investigation. “This is the court’s decision. The government has nothing to do with it,” he remarked.
No reason for NAB to arrest Zardari: Shehbaz Sharif
Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly
Shehbaz Sharif said that there was no reason for NAB to arrest Zardari as the latter had been appearing before the anti-corruption watchdog and the courts for case proceedings. He urged the speaker to issue production orders for Zardari urgently.
NAB has no connection with government: FM Qureshi
Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said that NAB is an independent institution and has no connection with the government. He further said that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) had always maintained that NAB should not be used for witch hunting and that accountability should be held across the board.
