NA committee summons NAB chairman over Nawaz 'money laundering' gaffe

E-Paper | April 24, 2026

The National Assembly's Standing Committee on Law and Justice on Tuesday asked National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Chairman Javed Iqbal to appear before it and explain why he ordered an inquiry into spurious allegations against Nawaz Sharif concerning money laundering to India.

The NAB chairman has been asked to appear on Wednesday for a committee session to be chaired by PML-N lawmaker Chaudhry Mohammad Ashraf.

Read: The 4.9 billion-dollar blunder

The decision to summon the accountability chief was taken on a point of order submitted by the PML-N's Rana Hayat.

Earlier this month, a press release issued by the bureau had stated that it was looking into allegations that Nawaz laundered money to the tune of $4.9 billion to India.

The announcement had stirred controversy after it was found to be based on a flawed World Bank report.

Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and Nawaz had called for the NAB chairman to either apologise for the blunder or resign.

Iqbal, however, has remained adamant in continuing his work as the bureau's head.

"NAB is not in panic and is not afraid," he had earlier said, brushing aside criticism of its decision.

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Truth Seeker

May 15, 2018 08:48pm

It’s opportunity for NAB chairman to prove he is right. Take all the evidence with you as you ask others to bring evidence of innocence when you call them.

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Life

May 15, 2018 08:53pm

Hopefully NAB Chairman will understand that he too is not untouchable. Everybody is answerable to some authority.

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Alba

May 15, 2018 09:01pm

I'm afraid the NAB was hyper enthusiastic in this case. Meanwhile Nawaz has gotten himself into more trouble.

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Aamir

May 15, 2018 09:02pm

Good work. NAB should be exposed.

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Bilal

May 15, 2018 09:04pm

Good move. Everyone is answerable. Be it Nawaz Sharif or NAB Chairman.

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ABRAR KHAN

May 15, 2018 10:13pm

They want a storm from a tea cup. Nothing will happen. But it's a story of two weeks.

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May 15, 2018 10:17pm

NAB’s charter is to inquire about all suspicious information or activities so NAB is within its rights to do so. However, it should be held accountable if it files false cases. In this instance NAB should conduct an inquiry but making public statements and naming people at the inquiry stage is wrong.

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khan

May 15, 2018 10:22pm

This committee of thugs has no moral standing to summon NAB Chairman. Before appearing to the committee NAB should give their decision in the references filed against Nawaz and his family. The verdict, everyone knows is guilty of money laundering, looting public money and buying properties in foreign land.

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Alex Iqbal

May 15, 2018 10:31pm

national assembly is made of thieves and thugs not all but most of them.

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Tzaman

May 15, 2018 10:41pm

Chairman NAB should be asked to resign for extreme stupidity. False accusation is criminal, and that too of 4.5 billion dollars. Is that a joke? But indeed made Pakistan as a joke.

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Khurram

May 15, 2018 10:51pm

NAB made a silly mistake and there isn’t a problem accepting one’s mistake. This chest thumping after committing a mistake is making NAB look even more silly.

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Minnion

May 15, 2018 11:07pm

well done ...Chairman NAB should now understand how it feels to be questioned and taken to task

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Ali

May 15, 2018 11:57pm

He should be asked about this ridiculous investigation.

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Magnanimous approach

May 16, 2018 12:50am

@Minnion .First of all there's no compulsion on Chairman NAB to go there. He should carry on his functions, probe the WB Report, and if it's clear, he may stop proceedings. He can also write directly to WB to have more details. Besides Nawaz Sharif is no more a MNA or legislator.The NA Committe has no mandate to call any officer of state institution to answer their whimsical questions about a common man.

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Pseudonym

May 16, 2018 01:11am

The agencies should stop meddling in politics so that we can move forward for once

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nam

May 16, 2018 01:36am

How about let him investigate and see if there is really anything or not and than call him in NA to answer questions

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F Khan

May 16, 2018 01:46am

Shame in the NAB Chairman for making the organization look like only an anti sharif accountability bureau.

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Ayub

May 16, 2018 01:49am

Does the National Assembly empower to summon the Chairman NAB for his intension to investigate the money laundering charges against a person who is not member of the house?

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The Real Haroon

May 16, 2018 02:00am

NAB needs some reining in.

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Masoud

May 16, 2018 02:05am

Absolutely wrong to call NAB chairman. He should not go. It is his duty to order investigation of any corruption on any source of information. They are not calling to know the facts, the hidden intention seem to insult NAB Chairman and score point through media.

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MONIER

May 16, 2018 02:14am

The man is doing his job but now Nawaz cronies are trying to put pressure on him to get Nawaz out of trouble. What a shame?

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MSA

May 16, 2018 02:16am

@Minnion Your comment makes no sense. NAB is created to investigate corruption. Some powerful people want to question NAB in return. That's noy right.

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CanaDian

May 16, 2018 02:27am

@Minnion that's his job to take people to task. By the way how much of your money is laundered throug NS. The only ones who seem to vouch for him are the ones who are involved with him.

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Concerned 1

May 16, 2018 03:48am

We don’t need a biased nab chairman

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Maria enteparia onnuchoriu

May 16, 2018 05:33am

How can some one launder the money he doesn't have?

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M A MUJEEB, CANADA

May 16, 2018 05:53am

@Minnion As per the constitution of Pakistan, NA committee cannot call or question the NAB Chairman. However, the only recourse available is that the NAB Chairman's case may be referred to the Judicial Commission.

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Dr. Doctor

May 16, 2018 06:10am

Finally a positive and bold but legal step by the assembly. This will be the first step in putting things on the right path.

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anwarsher

May 16, 2018 06:38am

NAB has lost its legitimacy .... It is a victimization tool.

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SHAHID SATTAR

May 16, 2018 11:21am

The figure of the money transfer mention two different versions. One is dollars four point nine billions while the other gives the figure of rupees forty nine millions only. There is vast difference between the two. Which is correct? The NAB Chairman is requested to clarify for the benefit of the tv channels so that they can harp about the same in their talk shows and soap operas.

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