Khawaja brothers express distrust in NAB's Lahore chief, ask chairman to transfer ongoing probe

Published November 11, 2018
The two wrote a letter to the chairman and expressed their distrust in NAB, its Lahore DG.— AFP/File
The two wrote a letter to the chairman and expressed their distrust in NAB, its Lahore DG.— AFP/File

PML-N leaders Khawaja Saad Rafique and Khawaja Salman Rafique on Saturday submitted an application with National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Chairman retired justice Javed Iqbal and sought transfer of the ongoing investigations against them, DawnNewsTV reported.

The Khawaja brothers wrote a letter to the NAB chairman, a copy of which is available with Dawn.com, and expressed their distrust in the accountability watchdog and its Lahore DG Shahzad Saleem, and blamed the official of doing character assassination and running a malicious media trial against them.

In their plea, the Khawaja brothers have mentioned that on November 8, the NAB DG "in complete disregard to the standard norms of the investigation process, participated in various talk shows".

"He [DG NAB] went on to make partisan, partial and prejudicial statements pertaining to the investigations since pending and insisted upon his predisposed and jaundiced opinion [the applicants are guilty]," the application read.

"The DG did not have the authority to make above sweeping remarks at this juncture when the matter is still pending and particularly he is investing the same," they added.

They claimed that they were facing maliciously motivated inquiries and mentioned that no credible evidence could be collected against the applicants to attract the mischief of any offence under the National Accountability Ordinance, 1999. "The investigation teams were bent upon to make out a case against the applicants by any means whatsoever," the applicants claimed.

According to the application, the two believe that they would not get a fair investigation from the team working under the incumbent DG, "who has become an inimical instrument in the hands of political rivals of the applicants".

"It is requested that the inquiries/investigations pending at [NAB's] Lahore [office,] may kindly be transferred to some other region to be conducted and concluded by an independent, impartial and honest investigator," read the application.

Opinion

Editorial

‘Source of terror’
Updated 29 Mar, 2024

‘Source of terror’

It is clear that going after militant groups inside Afghanistan unilaterally presents its own set of difficulties.
Chipping in
29 Mar, 2024

Chipping in

FEDERAL infrastructure development schemes are located in the provinces. Most such projects — for instance,...
Toxic emitters
29 Mar, 2024

Toxic emitters

IT is concerning to note that dozens of industries have been violating environmental laws in and around Islamabad....
Judiciary’s SOS
Updated 28 Mar, 2024

Judiciary’s SOS

The ball is now in CJP Isa’s court, and he will feel pressure to take action.
Data protection
28 Mar, 2024

Data protection

WHAT do we want? Data protection laws. When do we want them? Immediately. Without delay, if we are to prevent ...
Selling humans
28 Mar, 2024

Selling humans

HUMAN traders feed off economic distress; they peddle promises of a better life to the impoverished who, mired in...