ISLAMABAD / LAHORE: Infor­ma­­tion Minister Pervaiz Rashid said on Sunday that former president retired Gen Pervez Musharraf had set up the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to use it against PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif.

Talking to reporters, the minister also accused Benazir Bhutto of politically victimising the PML-N.

“Our accountability is being done for the last 20 years. First, it was done by the PPP government led by Ms Benazir Bhutto and then by former president Gen Pervez Musharraf,” he said. “Gen Musharraf was the architect of NAB and had we committed even a petty mistake, we would have been punished.”

Criticising the PML-N dissidents, the minister said that those afraid of NAB had left the party and sided with then president Gen Musharraf in 1999.

In reply to a question about MQM dissident Mustafa Kamal, Mr Rashid said that the interior minister had already clarified the government’s position on the matter and a committee had been formed in view of a recent statement of MQM financier Sarfaraz Marchant. “If Mustafa Kamal has any credible evidence he should appear before the committee.”

The minister said that the PML-N government in Sindh had been toppled in 1999 when it started taking action against criminals involved in the killing of Hakim Said, Shahid Hamid and journalist Salahuddin.

During a briefing in Lahore, Mr Rashid said that Pakistan cricket team would be sent to India only after receiving guarantees from India about the safety and dignity of Pakistani players.

“Our team will surely go if we are assured of its security. We want to play in each country and also wish other teams come here and play in Pakistan.”

Published in Dawn, March 7th, 2016