Next budget will be killer one, says Hamza

F.P. Report

LAHORE: Opposition Leader in the Punjab Assembly Hamza Shehbaz said on Sunday Pakistan is passing through a critical juncture of history.

Speaking at a press conference in Model Town, the PML-N leader slammed the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) chairman saying his interview to a journalist lent credence to his statements about the corruption watchdog’s head. “There is an unholy alliance between [PM Imran Khan] Niazi and NAB,” he alleged and asked the NAB chief to furnish evidence to substantiate the accusations he [Javed Iqbal] had hurled at him in the interview.

“If the NAB fails to prove anything against me, I will request the LHC chief justice to form a larger bench over the NAB chairman’s interview,” said Hamza.

Slamming the government’s economic policies, he said the country’s economy is in tatters. “Upcoming budget will be a killer budget,” he added. The PML-N leader said the bureau shared the blame for ruining the economy. “GDP growth rate has dropped to 3 per cent,” he lamented. Condemning the death of children at Sahiwal District Headquarter Hospital, he said the incident has exposed the provincial government’s performance.

Meanwhile, Vice president of Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) and leader of opposition in Punjab Assembly Hamza Shehbaz Sunday said a larger bench should be constituted to analyze the cases pertaining to accountability of NAB chief.

He said if NAB proved cases against him, he will leave the politics.

Talking to a presser in Lahore, Hamza said unelected people can be seen in the parliament, adding that inflation has become unbearable.

He said NAB chief should be held accountable, adding that courts must summon NAB chief and journalist over interview controversy. Hamza said wrong allegations were made against Shehbaz Sharif by sitting PM, He added that the PM is playing delaying tactics in this case now. He said questionnaire is prepared by a grade 17 officer but DG NAB Lahore said he himself wrote the questionnaire of Hamza Shehbaz. He said DG NAB Lahore discussed about the dates of filing of reference against Sharif family in the interview.

Hamza alleged that it is now proved that NAB and Niazi have some special relations.