August 13, 2008	Wednesday	Sha’aban 10, 1429

ISLAMABAD, Aug 12: A Senate committee called for immediate suspension of the five NAB officials for allegedly manhandling Senator Safdar Ali Abbasi.

The committee on rules of procedures and privileges, which met here on Tuesday to consider a privilege motion tabled by Senator Abbasi ordered the NAB to submit a report within a week.

Presided over by Senator Syed Tahir Hussain Mashhadi, the meeting expressed deep concern over the breach of honour, dignity and privilege of a sitting member of parliament and regretted that NAB officials often overstepped their mandate and manhandled people.

Stressing the need for taking strict action against the NAB officials, the committee said they must change their mindset.

Chairman NAB Naveed Ahsan said his organisation respected parliament and parliamentarians and would cooperate with the committee. He said that his officials were only carrying out court orders and did not intend to manhandle the Senator.

Senator Abbasi said he had been manhandled at the time of the arrest of his cousin Sikandar Ali Abbasi, former deputy director of CDA, on Aug 8. He said that no arrest warrants were produced and despite his attempts to introduce himself as a sitting legislator, the NAB officials did not show any respect and even bail orders shown by his cousin’s lawyer, Senator Dr Babar Awan, were not honoured.

The committee will hold its next meeting on Aug 20. The NAB was directed to provide details of the arrest.