NAB law is a 'black law' used to victimize political opponents: Saad Rafique

PML-N lawmaker Khawaja Saad Rafique on Friday appeared before the National Assembly for the first time since the issuance of his production orders by the speaker.

Rafique, in his address, termed the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) law as a "black law" that had been used to victimise political opponents since its inception. He raised questions over the accountability process, claiming that it was not fair and transparent.

"Even the accountability during the PML-N government was not transparent," he said.

He also lamented the delay in the issuance of his production orders and said that if the speaker had issued them earlier, the assembly proceedings would not have been interrupted as they were due to walkout staged by the opposition.

"The parliament is still not independent," Rafique said. "If it were truly independent, the speaker would have issued my production orders on the first day. I have met the speaker (Asad Qaiser) a few times and he is a genuine and strong man. I realise that he faced a lot of pressure and as a result of your (assembly's) efforts, today I got the chance to speak here."

Referring to his arrest in the Paragon Housing Society scam, he said that the NAB could not produce any evidence of wrongdoing against him. He claimed that a "dear old friend" of his was forced to turn into an approver, however, even he had failed to produce anything against the PML-N lawmaker.

Rafique said that the assets and income that he had been declaring in his tax returns for years was now being used as "a charge sheet" against him. He said that members of the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) that will soon have to face the same fate as opposition leaders "in order to create a balance".

"We don't want to see anyone behind bars," he declared. "Does the Pakistani electorate vote for us so that we can hurl accusations at each other and damage each other's reputations?"

He said that the opposition and government benches must stop fighting each other and start fighting against poverty, illiteracy and other challenges that the country is facing.

He also addressed news of the probable arrest of former president Asif Ali Zardari and warned that the event will cause disturbance throughout the country.

He urged the government to lead the parliament, provincial governments and country's institutions.