LAHORE: The PML-N central executive committee has decided to join the investigation of the commission probing sugar and wheat scam.

“Former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and Khurram Dastigir will appear before the commission to present more facts of how Prime Minister Imran Khan and Chief Minister Usman Buzdar are directly involved in this mega scam,” PML-N information secretary Marriyum Auranzeb told Dawn after the CEC meeting which was presided over by Shahbaz Sharif through a video link here on Thursday.

Federal Investigation Agency Director General Wajid Zia-led committee had probed the scam in which involvement of Pakistan Tehreek-i-insaf big guns like Jehangir Tareen and Khusroo Bakhtiar appeared. The panel reportedly has sought more time for completing the forensic audit of the inquiry report after which PM Khan vowed to take action against the culprits.

Addressing the CEC meeting, Shahbaz Sharif said: “The real culprits guilty of sugar and wheat theft are Imran Khan and Usman Buzdar. The inquiry committee, FIA and NAB inquiries are aimed at protecting the real culprits. This is why PML-N has decided to expose the actual villains of the sugar and wheat crisis.” He demanded that a session of the parliament be immediately called to formulate a national strategy against the coronavirus because the government has completely failed to do so. A requisition for the same had been submitted to the national assembly, he said.

Shahbaz said the PML-N had extended unconditional cooperation to the government based on compassion and devotion to the nation. With the same spirit, the party formulated a national strategy after extensive consultation with all political parties, sectors and stakeholders in the fight against Covid-19.

He pledged that no matter how brutally persecuted, harassed and victimised, PML-N would continue speaking the truth and become voice of the people of Pakistan.

Published in Dawn, April 24th, 2020