Prime Minister Imran Khan on Wednesday said thieves ‘become Nelson Mandela’ after they are arrested.
Speaking to journalists at the Parliament House, the prime minister said, “Today, Agha Siraj Durrani has been arrested. First, they loot the country and then when they are arrested they become Nelson Mandela.”
Federal Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry meanwhile said the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) is an independent institution and the government has nothing to do with the arrest of Sindh Assembly Speaker Agha Siraj Durrani.
Talking to reporters after the parliamentary party meeting of Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf before the start of National Assembly session, the minister said accountability process should not be linked with politics. “Whatever action NAB has taken today, it has taken independently. It does not consult with the government in any way. Our own senior minister from Punjab was arrested and today they have arrested the Sindh Assembly Speaker,” he said.
He said it is highly important that the accountability process remains independent and is run freely. “This is why during all of NAB’s operations, even if they are against our own people, we have always supported the rule of law,” he said. The government expects the same kind of support from all political parties, he said. “If they want to see Pakistan progress, they will have to support the rule of law,” he added.
Published in Daily Times, February 21st 2019.
