Opposition parties on Friday submitted a privilege motion in the National Assembly Secretariat, calling to attention what they called a “media trial” by the National Accountability Bureau’s (NAB) Lahore director general, Saleem Shahzad, during his appearance on news channels.
According to PML-N spokesperson Marriyum Aurangzeb, the PPP had “joined the privilege motion [moved by PML-N] in writing”. She added that the rest of the opposition parties had also supported the motion, signed by Leader of Opposition in the Parliament Shahbaz Sharif.
The motion said that Shahzad had given interviews to multiple news channels “with the consent” of the NAB chairman. The NAB Lahore DG “provided details of the matters that are sub-judice” and “maligned the reputation” of opposition members in the National Assembly, the motion said.
The notice also accused Shahzad of revealing confidential information and urged National Assembly to intervene in the matter immediately.
Shahzad appeared on ‘Dunya Kamran Khan Kay Sath’ on Dunya News, ‘Off The Record’ on ARY News, ‘Nadeem Malik Live’ on Hum News, ‘Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Sath’ on Geo News, and ‘Awaz’ on Samaa TV — all over the last two days, according to the motion.
During today’s assembly session, Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry held Shahbaz Sharif responsible for initiating the “media trial”, referring to the PML-N president’s fiery appearance in the assembly last month after his arrest by NAB. He reminded the parliament that the law minister had pointed out that the discussion on ongoing cases was not legally allowed.
Chaudhry declared the privilege motion to be against the Constitution, and alleged that the opposition was “trying to influence the investigation”.
Former premier Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, in response to Chaudhry, reiterated the motion’s claim that NAB Lahore DG was conducting a media trial on the “directions of NAB chairman”. He alleged that Shahzad owned a fake degree, adding: “Accountability should be done, but not by the likes of such people.”
He further criticised Chaudhry for suggesting that parliament members “did not have the right to speak on the floor of the assembly”.
“He [Chaudhry] also said that if an assembly member says something on the floor, then the officer has the right to come on TV and say such things [in response],” he said.
“He can correct me if I am interpreting him wrongly,” Abbasi said.
Chaudhry in reply said that Abbasi had misunderstood him and he did not suggest that assembly members had no right to speak on the floor. However, he said that the law will not change for anyone.
