ISLAMABAD: The main opposition Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has called for initiation of “criminal proceedings” against Adviser to the Prime Minister on Accountability and Interior Shehzad Akbar for allegedly compromising national interests and seeking commission in the Broadsheet case.

Speaking at a press conference at the National Press Club here on Tuesday, PML-N information secretary Marriyum Aurangzeb questioned the legality and legitimacy of the entire process and asked as to who had mandated Mr Akbar to have a meeting with Kaveh Moussavi, the head of Broadsheet, allegedly to negotiate a commission for his “master” under the garb of pursuing a reduction in the pending dues.

Ms Aurangzeb, who had served as information minister in the PML-N government, demanded that all phone and email data of Prime Minister Imran Khan, British journalist David Rose, Shahzad Akbar and Kaveh Moussavi be confiscated and be analysed forensically. This, she said, would reveal the true deal settled between them.

Seeks forensic analysis of phone, email of PM, his aide besides British journalist and Broadsheet owner

During her hard-hitting presser, the PML-N information secretary accused Mr Akbar of being a frontman for the prime minister and said every special adviser and cabinet minister had been appointed not for their abilities to help the country but “for their talent to commit large-scale corruption that would get Imran the lion’s share”.

She said David Rose from The Daily Mail had arranged a meeting between Mr Akbar and Mr Moussavi and allegedly demanded 200,000 pounds.

She said two chief justices of Pakistan had already written damning comments about Mr Akbar, questioning his credentials and competence for the position and power given to him by PM Khan.

She alleged that sugar, wheat, electricity and gas crises were intentionally created to the benefit of “Imran and his mafia government”.

She also referred to mega corruption scandal of Peshawar BRT and medicines and termed the formation of inquiry commissions on sugar, wheat and oil mere eyewash.

She said every commission had failed to indict even a single culprit and fix responsibility and recover the looted hundreds of billions of rupees.

Published in Dawn, February 17th, 2021