NAB arrests Sharif’s brother-in-law

LAHORE: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) arrested on Thursday former National Assembly member Suhail Zia Butt, a brother-in-law of PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif, over charges of defaulting on a Rs70 million loan.

Suhail Butt was on way to his office after attending a funeral in the Model Town area when he was picked up by a special team of NAB near Kalma Chowk in Garden Town. He was shifted to the Chamba House. NAB has accused Butt of misappropriating over Rs70 million in a cooperative companies scam. In 2000, NAB registered cases against him of withdrawing money by swindling cooperative banks. Butt was declared a proclaimed offender in absentia by an accountability court in 2001. He returned to Pakistan in 2008 before the elections after spending more than seven years abroad and no action had been taken against him for almost two years.

Other accused in the case include Chaudhry Tajammul Hussain, the late uncle of PML-Q chief Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, Chaudhry Nayyar and Chaudhry Abdul Majid.

Zia Butt is a brother-in-law of the Sharif brothers. His son, Umar Suhail Butt, is a sitting MNA from Lahore.

Expressing surprise over Butt’s arrest, Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah said NAB officials did not take the provincial government into confidence before Suhail’s arrest. He said that he would contact the federal government after collecting facts.

Relatives of the accused told reporters that the case has “no basis and the PPP is trying to politically victimise us”.

Govt sends Musharraf abroad under a mutual understanding: Nawaz

SIALKOT: Quaid PML-N Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif has accused that the government wanted to protect former President Pervez Musharraf and he (Musharraf) was sent abroad under a mutual understanding.

Addressing to a public gathering on Saturday, the Quaid PML underlined that President Asif Ali Zardari was insisted several times for the accountability of Pervez Musharraf and he should have been accountable for dissolving judiciary, killing Nawab Akbar Bugti and starting Lal Masjid operation.

The Quaid PML-N has requested the court to take suo motu notice of all illegal actions taken by Pervez Musharraf.

He also said that after the elections, he reminded Asif Ali Zardari to fulfill promised made in to CoD that was inked between him and PPP Chairperson Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, but President Zardari did not follow CoD with letter and spirit.

PML-N Quaid further emphasized that some sections of CoD were particularly designed in the interest of the country and to strengthen democratic process in the country.

He also remarked that actions should be taken against former dictator as American President has taken action against General Mc-Crystal as the nation wanted to bring the dictator in the court.

PML-N Chief clarified that PML-N dispelled the impression that N-League is a friendly opposition, adding that had PML-N friendly opposition, it would not have takeout Long-March against the ruling government. Quaid PML-N said that the party never taken any step for personal interests but remained at forefront for the national interests.