NAB (National Accountability Bureau) has arrested Khawaja Asif, the leader of opposition party PML-N recently. Reportedly, NAB officials presented lawmaker Khawaja Asif in the accountability court. Upon the hearing, Judge Jawad Ul Hassan ordered his arrest and captivity for not providing a satisfactory explanation regarding his unaccounted assets. The Pakistan Muslim League Noon (PML-N) representative is to stay in physical remand till January 13.
Khawaja Asif Arrested for Possessing Inexplicable Assets
As per the charge sheet against Khawaja Muhammad Asif, his assets were worth 221 million in the year 2018. Asif is accused of presenting fake sources of his income since he stated that a UAE based company named M/s IMECO was the source of his Rs 130 million. However, there was allegedly no firm evidence that could confirm this big amount as his salary.
Besides, this Khawaja Asif is also accused of owning an unknown corporation named Tariq Mir and Company registered in the name of an employee. The company’s account was filled with Rs 400 million without the trail of its source.
All in All, the total worth of his assets that he and his family possessed was Rs810 million. The amount this big without any explicable resource was what caused alarmed for authorities.
According to the Prosecutor’s statement before the court of accountability, the accused was supposed to present the sources of his assets in order to nullify the allegations. However, Khawaja Asif couldn’t provide any reasonable explanations and satisfactory evidence to the investigation team in his defense.
Maryam Nawaz Alleges The Arrest As Government’s Propaganda
NAB has been actively taking action against the alleged corruption regulators. In September 2020, NAB arrested Shahbaz Shareef, current opposition Leader in the National Assembly of Pakistan.
Now, the physical remand case of Khawaja Asif has poked the anger of PLM-N representative and Nawaz Sharif’s daughter, Maryam Nawaz. According to her, this arrest is nothing but propaganda by the government to stay in power. In her views, NAB uses the excuse of assets beyond the means of earning after unable to find any other illegal act committed by the accused.
She reportedly stated that the PDM (Pakistan Democratic Movement) would take notice of the act against Khawaja Muhammad Asif. Maryam Nawaz along with Pakistan Peoples Party is leading the PDM against the current government of Prime Minister Imran Khan. The opposition alliance is of opinion that any arrest made in the name of corruption is usually a crackdown on the opponents to curb their resistence.
The ongoing PDM is holding rally in different parts of Pakistan despite country entangled in the second wave of coronavirus.
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