LAHORE: Neither the Punjab government has anything to do with the arrest of Hamza Shahbaz nor the federal government with Asif Ali Zardari’s, says Punjab Information Minister Samsam Bukhari, adding that the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) took them into custody after their bails expired.

Addressing a hurriedly-called press conference here on Tuesday, the minister said that the cases against former president Zardari had been instituted by the PML-N, not the PTI government. The PTI will neither hamper the accountability process nor influence it -- the courts and the NAB are independent and taking their own course.

Talking about the possible production order for Hamza for the upcoming Punjab Assembly budget session, he said that it was up to the speaker.

“The speaker has the authority to issue it and only he could, and would, decide.”

About the opposition trying to take to the streets, the minister said that though protest was a right of the opposition and it can do it on its own terms, but it must be within the precincts of law.

“The law will take its course if these protests cross boundaries. Police will be there to protect people in case of any misadventure,” he warned.

Earlier in a press statement, Mr Bukhari said that both PML-N and PPP were hiding their corruption in the guise of agitation and the press

conference of PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari reflected their parochialism.

He said those who committed corruption should be ready for accountability as the people were facing consequences of misdeeds committed during the tenures of PPP and PML-N.

One should respect court verdicts and it appears that the opposition was ignoring the real issues.

He was of the opinion that Nawaz Sharif will never extend any support to Asif Zardari, adding that the narratives of Shahbaz and Nawaz had become a nuisance for PML-N workers.

He said that Prime Minister Imran Khan will not abandon his struggle aimed at eradicating corruption from the country.

Bukhari further said that the provocative behaviour of PML-N workers was deplorable as there was no logic of agitation against court decisions.

Hamza Shahbaz should face the legal process and PML-N educate its workers about the reality. He made it clear that action will be taken if anybody tried to take the law into their hands.

Published in Dawn, June 12th, 2019