E-Paper | February 24, 2026

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

Fayyaz Raja Published May 15, 2018
comments
Whatsapp Channel

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.

Pakistan

Read more

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.
Recommend 0
Life
May 15, 2018 08:53pm
Hopefully NAB Chairman will understand that he too is not untouchable. Everybody is answerable to some authority.
Recommend 0
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.
Recommend 0
Aamir
May 15, 2018 09:02pm
Good work. NAB should be exposed.
Recommend 0
Bilal
May 15, 2018 09:04pm
Good move. Everyone is answerable. Be it Nawaz Sharif or NAB Chairman.
Recommend 0
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.
Recommend 0
AW
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.
Recommend 0
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.
Recommend 0
Alex Iqbal
May 15, 2018 10:31pm
national assembly is made of thieves and thugs not all but most of them.
Recommend 0
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.
Recommend 0
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.
Recommend 0
Minnion
May 15, 2018 11:07pm
well done ...Chairman NAB should now understand how it feels to be questioned and taken to task
Recommend 0
Ali
May 15, 2018 11:57pm
He should be asked about this ridiculous investigation.
Recommend 0
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.
Recommend 0
Pseudonym
May 16, 2018 01:11am
The agencies should stop meddling in politics so that we can move forward for once
Recommend 0
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
Recommend 0
F Khan
May 16, 2018 01:46am
Shame in the NAB Chairman for making the organization look like only an anti sharif accountability bureau.
Recommend 0
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?
Recommend 0
The Real Haroon
May 16, 2018 02:00am
NAB needs some reining in.
Recommend 0
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.
Recommend 0
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?
Recommend 0
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.
Recommend 0
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.
Recommend 0
Concerned 1
May 16, 2018 03:48am
We don’t need a biased nab chairman
Recommend 0
Maria enteparia onnuchoriu
May 16, 2018 05:33am
How can some one launder the money he doesn't have?
Recommend 0
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.
Recommend 0
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.
Recommend 0
anwarsher
May 16, 2018 06:38am
NAB has lost its legitimacy .... It is a victimization tool.
Recommend 0
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.
Recommend 0

Most Popular

01
02
03
04
05
06
07
08
09

Latest Stories

Opinion

Editorial

Afghan strikes
Updated 24 Feb, 2026

Afghan strikes

IN the wake of the recent wave of terrorist attacks targeting Pakistan, with most of the atrocities linked to ...
Tug of war
24 Feb, 2026

Tug of war

THE timing may be questioned, but the issue is not new. The PPP and the MQM-P are once again engaging in their old...
Easier CNIC access
24 Feb, 2026

Easier CNIC access

NADRA’S decision to issue CNICs to first-time applicants without requiring them to produce a birth certificate is ...
Hollow applause
Updated 23 Feb, 2026

Hollow applause

The current account turnaround, though largely driven by import compression, rising remittances and bilateral debt rollovers, has eased external pressures.
Delayed appointment
23 Feb, 2026

Delayed appointment

THE recent appointment of a chief election commissioner for Azad Jammu & Kashmir has once again shone a ...
Fragile equilibrium
23 Feb, 2026

Fragile equilibrium

PAKISTAN is not short of food. It is short of resilience. The latest Integrated Food Security Phase Classification...
Dawn News English
Subscribe