ISLAMABAD: A number of senators strongly protested during Friday’s session of the Senate against a statement made earlier by Chairman National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Admiral (retd) Fasih Bokhari over the magnitude of corruption in the country, DawnNews reported.

Chairman Senate Nayyar Hussain Bokhari headed Friday’s session in Islamabad.

During the session, Senator Farhatullah Babar said the statement issued by the NAB chairman was contrary to facts. He said the lack of a wealth tax in the country did not imply corruption, adding that, wealth tax had been abolished by law.

The Senate chairman said his NAB counterpart had introduced a new definition of corruption.

Also during the session, Awami National Party (ANP) Senator Zahid Khan said declaring politicians were being insulted by being declared as tax evaders. He added that tax returns filed by generals, judges and owners of media houses should also be revealed.

During the session, minorities’ senators also registered their protest against the killing of a spiritual leader of the Hindu community in Balochistan’s Mastung area. They called for the immediate arrest of those responsible for the killing.

They added that large numbers of people from the country’s religious minorities had been migrating from Sindh and Balochistan during the current government as a result of the unsafe conditions they were living in.

Subsequently, the session was adjourned until 4pm Monday.