ISLAMABAD, Nov 30: Secretary-general of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League, Mushahid Hussain, on Tuesday contradicted a written reply submitted by the prime minister's secretariat to the Senate regarding his detention by the Musharraf government after October 12, 1999 on charges of "misuse of authority."

Speaking on a point of personal explanation, Senator Mushahid said there was never a case against him from the NAB or any other institution. The contradiction of official reply of the prime minister's secretariat by the senator of the ruling party attracted opposition's ire against the government and its accountability process through the National Accountability Bureau.

The written reply submitted by the prime minister's secretariat to the senate secretariat said Mushahid Hussain, chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, Kashmir Affairs and Northern Affairs, was detained on allegations of "misuse of authority."

The prime minister secretariat's correspondence, vide letter number "PM's Sectt. U.O No.9 (6)/SO (Council)/2004 dated 27-10-2004" said the case against Mr Mushahid was closed on May 11, 2002.

Interestingly enough, Senator Mushahid said since there was no charge against him, the question of a case being "dropped" did not arise. The PML secretary-general claimed that after five hearings on January 25, 2000, the then NAB prosecutor-general, Farooq Adam Khan, had said on the record that the NAB had no case against Mushahid Hussain and he was not under NAB custody.