Bilawal says can't appear for May 17 hearing, asks NAB to set another date
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PPP Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari has requested the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to reschedule the hearing that is to be held on May 17, Adviser to the Sindh Chief Minister on Information Barrister Murtaza Wahab said on Wednesday.
In a video message, Wahab said that the PPP chairperson has written a letter to NAB, explaining that he will not be able to appear before the bureau on May 17 — as was earlier planned — due to some "prior commitments". Therefore, Bilawal urged the anti-corruption watchdog to set another date in the coming week.
"The notice sent by NAB to Bilawal was dated May 8, but he received it on May 13," Wahab claimed. "Since Mr Bilawal had prior commitments, he has intimated NAB that it will not be possible for him to appear on May 17."
Yesterday, Bilawal's spokesperson Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar had insisted that the PPP chairperson would appear before NAB on May 17, and had rubbished rumours that he had not answered questions posed by the bureau.
Bilawal had last appeared before NAB on March 20, when he was grilled in three corruption cases: an alleged purchase and demarcation of a land in Islamabad by Park Lane Estates (Pvt) Limited — of which Bilawal was a minor shareholder — as well as a loan allegedly obtained by the firm.
Imtiaz Ali is a Karachi-based reporter for Dawn with over 25 years of experience in the field. His reporting portfolio encompasses crime, politics, and the provincial legislature, alongside coverage of the courts, government affairs, and the health sector.
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May 15, 2019 11:10pm
Which previous commitments??? It is just merely a show defiance.
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May 15, 2019 11:27pm
Yeah the earlier answer was yes, but after briefing from lawyer it’s no.
Their main theme is to delay, gain time, and hope for some miracle in
their favor.
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May 15, 2019 11:42pm
Can't NAB proceed anyway ? ..... this is obviously a delaying tactic and NAB should address it as such.
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May 15, 2019 11:45pm
I wonder if he will play the ill health and has to travel abroad for treatment card?
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May 16, 2019 12:10am
I don't think these hearing are presented as choice. It's not a doctor's appointment that you can reschedule.
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May 16, 2019 12:37am
Bilawal is right. Be it NAB or any other govt dept. People as such can have prior appointments and it should be respected. but it should also be all across with no injustice with anyone from any party. One week will not make any difference.
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May 16, 2019 12:40am
No problem. He will eventually have to appear.
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May 16, 2019 01:01am
Delaying tactics. NAB should proceed.
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May 16, 2019 01:05am
I don't think it is a request.
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May 16, 2019 01:05am
How long can Bilawal run from justice after looting billions
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May 16, 2019 01:10am
@syed shah, I do not know the law, but NAB does not have an authority as court.
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May 16, 2019 01:12am
Grab him by the ear and bring him to the office!
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May 16, 2019 01:15am
He has prior commitments like ensuring people in Sind have clean water, healthcare is fixed along with broken roads and the crime wave brought under control. The sort of things PPP have supposedly been working on for the last 30 years apparently.
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May 16, 2019 01:18am
@NACParis, NAB should show some teeth and don’t budge at all
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May 16, 2019 01:21am
For refusing to appear on fixed date. He should be charged and ban in NA
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May 16, 2019 01:39am
He may appear in handcuffs later on.
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May 16, 2019 01:45am
I’m sure he will play the ‘needs medical treatment card abroad’ soon
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May 16, 2019 01:45am
More excuses?
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May 16, 2019 01:51am
The NAB should prcocced against this man ex-parte.
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May 16, 2019 01:58am
Mr. Bilawal Zardari,
How arrogant you are.
But it makes no difference.
Sooner or later you will come to behind the bars.
Your days are numbered.
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May 16, 2019 02:09am
Give him May 20 then or arrest warrants.
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May 16, 2019 02:23am
@Bhaijan, NAB can call him for 18 or 19. I think, he has now fear of being arrested, like Durrani, who didn't answer twice and Bilawal also didn't answer twice, third time, face the wall.
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May 16, 2019 02:28am
@Bhaijan, yes
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May 16, 2019 02:28am
@syed shah, agree
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May 16, 2019 02:30am
@NACParis, he gets sick when hears NAB, seeing his future. Let's make his dreams come true, free room and board in jail!
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May 16, 2019 02:31am
@A shah, too early, Indian troll.
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May 16, 2019 02:36am
These people are making a mockery of the whole process!
If he is such a busy-body, then he needs to get his priorities sorted. You’d think saving one’s reputation by proving themselves to be innocent of the said allegations would be far higher priority than some lame excuse of ‘prior commitments’.
I can only assume these ‘commitments’ are to go check on their banks accounts & properties in the UAE, France, UK, etc!
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May 16, 2019 02:43am
May be he is injured and need some bed rest...
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May 16, 2019 02:47am
He thinks this is an invitation to a tea party!
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May 16, 2019 02:48am
@NACParis, just drama and news.
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May 16, 2019 03:00am
Call him on 18th, 19th, doesn't matter if its Saturday or Sunday.
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May 16, 2019 03:01am
Family of cheaters and liars. And these are their basic traits. Then they build their future upon these foundations without remorse or morals.
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May 16, 2019 03:16am
Your an elected official accountable to the people that elected you. A country that delays accountability of its elected officials only encourages more corruption.
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May 16, 2019 03:24am
The corrupt are busy looting and need another date . Arrogance got his grandfather, it will take him down as well. This boy is ending hiscateer before it even started.
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May 16, 2019 03:26am
What an arrogance?
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May 16, 2019 03:30am
@Parvez, - these thugs know they are heading for big trouble, but why are the authorities being lenient with them. Surely the NAB are not a part of the PPP. Are they??
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May 16, 2019 03:48am
What an excuse. Did someone call him for excursion or accountability. What a fun saga going on.
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May 16, 2019 04:12am
Mired in corruption since birth,Bilawal has no defense. This selected leader of PPP should be arrested for repeatedly refusing to appear before NAB.
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May 16, 2019 04:19am
What prior commitment nawab saheb? Can a common citizen make an excuse like that and get away? Isn't this more important? Drag him to court if he does not show up!!!
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May 16, 2019 04:56am
Too cool for answering questions. I think that invitation was not a request. NAB & Courts need to assert themselves, they need to make wannabe Dons an example and show them that they mean business.
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May 16, 2019 04:58am
Mr. Bilawal Zardari,
Your days are numbered.
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May 16, 2019 05:00am
Mr. Bilawal Zardari
You have been accused.
You are not exceptional and haven't dignity.
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May 16, 2019 05:01am
Never knew NAB is so flexible! Seems like inviting for dinner .
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May 16, 2019 05:01am
What good is he doing to be in news. Wasting everyone’s time
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May 16, 2019 05:03am
If NAB agrees, it will become precedence. Bring him hancuffed if make excuses.
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May 16, 2019 05:03am
If it were an ordinary man, NAB would barge in to his/her house and grab him/her using full authority that SC has given them. But Bilawal is no ordinary 'man'.
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May 16, 2019 05:09am
Still don't understand why Bilawal is being called by NAB? His father might be corrupt and made lots of illegal money but the young lad has only just entered politics. Let him be. Arrest and jail his father .
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May 16, 2019 05:20am
Arrest him.
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May 16, 2019 05:53am
Government agencies investigating against any pharaohs of the land of the pure or any of their off springs or brothers or sisters or any other relatives should first seek permission from them requesting them on which date and time they will feel it convenient to bless them with their presence and answer some questions which are required to be presented for filling in the files against them. They must also apologies for causing any inconveniences to the pharaohs.
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May 16, 2019 06:24am
Previous Commitment; Health visits out of country or locally should all be stopped and every citizen should be treated equally.
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May 16, 2019 06:39am
What else Bilal does other than eating?
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May 16, 2019 06:49am
Who is Bilawal? What prior commitments? All nonsense. Criminals should not be the choosers of date. Supreme Court of Pakistan should look into delaying tactics and allow rescheduling for genuine reason like death in family or serious sickness not like sneezing one time. People of Pakistan want answer from Supreme Court about corrupt people and realization of looted wealth.
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May 16, 2019 06:55am
Send a military helicopter to transport him; and also send a bill for the ride
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May 16, 2019 07:28am
@Naeem ,
Mr. Naeem,
Sooner or later Mr. Bilawal Zardari will be standing before the court.
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May 16, 2019 07:28am
NAB should stop serving as a political tool of the 'masters' of this country.
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May 16, 2019 07:31am
@zane,
Mr. zane,
Congratulations on your comment.
In near future Mr. Bilawal Zardari will forget script-reading.
He thinks he is above the law with his wadera and feudal mentality.
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May 16, 2019 07:34am
This is ridiculous. Can he even reschedule this?
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May 16, 2019 07:36am
This guy is playing hardball with NAB. Not good.
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May 16, 2019 08:35am
Dear Bilawal, Go and stay in your father's I'll gotten nest in the UAE.
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May 16, 2019 09:34am
like father like son. family of corrupt con men.
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May 16, 2019 10:56am
Yeah sure, NAB shall take appointment from you!
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May 16, 2019 11:07am
The delaying tactics of corrupt PPP mafia.
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May 16, 2019 11:38am
Cannot appear due to previous engagement...What does Bilawal thinks....Is it his father's Kingdom....this attitude is simply due the leniency given in the name of bail after bail...Can any tax paying citizen say if called by NAB...he is busy and cannot come...will that be acceptable to LEAs and NAB...So what makes Bilawal super citizen....
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May 16, 2019 11:59am
Bilawal should get his priority straight, if he wants to show people that he not corrupt like his father is, he should appear in court immediately, otherwise people will think he is afraid of the NAB investigation.
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May 16, 2019 03:44pm
Bilawal is an accused and hence can't write letters to the prosecutor but submit an application through his attorney if applicable.
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