RAWALPINDI: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) arrested PML-N candidate Qamarul Islam Raja when he is innocent and does not have any cases registered against him anywhere in the country, said former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi on Monday.

“NAB is interrogating Qamarul Islam without any solid evidence against him that could prove his involvement in corruption,” he said, adding that if Mr Islam is defeated in the upcoming general elections, he will still have a moral victory.

Mr Abbasi was addressing a large public gathering at Qamarul Islam’s election office in Chowk Pindori, Kallar Syedan. The former premier inaugurated the election office of the detained candidate before he spoke to the gathering.

Qamarul Islam’s children Uswa and Salaar, local PML-N leaders, elected public representatives and party supporters and workers were also present on the occasion.

Says Musharraf established NAB to sweep PML-N out of the country

Addressing the public rally, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi said retired Gen Pervez Musharraf established NAB to sweep out PML-N from Pakistan.

He said NAB does not have evidence against Qamarul Islam and that it had not even contacted him before but arrested him after the PML-N fielded him in NA-59 and PP-10.

“All NAB cases are not true because all us politicians have faced such cases,” he said, adding that a politician from Balochistan was arrested by NAB and let go after recovering Rs1 billion from him. But NAB is targeting Mr Islam without reason, he said.

He said unknown people are harassing PML-N candidates in a bid to turn them and to convince them to contest the upcoming elections as independent candidates.

He said such incidents and tactics are making the elections controversial and urged NAB, the election commission, the Supreme Court and the caretaker government to ensure a free and fair election.

The former premier said he had released billions of rupees for development during his tenure as prime minister.

Mr Abbasi said PPP and PML-Q have not done anything for the betterment of the people and said the PML-N has put the country back on the track of development and prosperity by building roads, motorways, the China Pakistan Economic Corridor and other projects. He said the PML-N had the support of the youth and will win the general elections 2018 with a great majority.

He also said Qamarul Islam will win in both constituencies on July 25.

PML-N workers and supporters gave the former premier a warm welcome. They held party flags, portraits of Nawaz Sharif, Shahbaz Sharif, Maryam Nawaz and of the detained Qamarul Islam.

Uswa and Salar Raja thanked Shahid Khaqan Abbasi for attending the inauguration of their father’s election office.

They said their father was being targeted because he was contesting the general elections on a PML-N ticket and for supporting Nawaz Sharif. They said they firmly believe that their father will be proven innocent.

Published in Dawn, July 3rd, 2018