Staff Reporter
Islamabad
Chairman of the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Information and Broadcasting Javed Latif on Thursday summoned the chief of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), saying he must explain as to why the UK-based firm Broadsheet was paid-off ‘billions’.
“Pakistan had to pay billions just because of one institution’s fault,” Latif said while chairing the meeting of the committee. He expressed displeasure over the pay-off of the huge sum from the national exchequer to the foreign firm.
Latif noted that the country had to face embarrassment due to the Broadsheet saga, adding the top graft watchdog changed its statement multiple times. “Why did the NAB believe that the money went to the wrong account following the London High Court’s ruling in this regard,” he questioned and said, “Chairman NAB must tell under which government’s tenure did it happen”.
During the meeting, Information Minister Shibli Faraz said the NAB chief should not be summoned to give an explanation. “The Committee may summon everyone involved in the transactions if it wants to get an explanation from the NAB chief,” he maintained.
However, Latif said the government shouldn’t give an impression as if it was defending the NAB chief.
Meanwhile, the federal government on Thursday appointed Justice retired Sheikh Azmat Saeed as head of inquiry committee formed by Prime Minister Imran Khan to probe the Broadsheet scandal.
This was announced by Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Shibli Faraz in a tweet. Shibli Faraz further said that the inquiry committee on the Broadsheet scandal will complete its inquiry in 45 days.
Taking to Twitter, Federal Minister for Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhry said the Prime Minister Imran Khan has
nominated Justice retired Sheikh Azmat Saeed as head of inquiry committee on Broadsheet scandal, adding that remaining members of the
committee will be appointed by former SC judge Azmat Saeed. The federal cabinet meeting on Tuesday had formed an inquiry committee on
the Broadsheet scandal.
Addressing a press conference along with Minister for Science Fawad Chaudhary and Minister for Human Rights Shireen Mazari here in
Islamabad, Shibli Faraz said federal cabinet meeting had formed an inquiry committee in light of recommendations presented to PM Imran
Khan regarding the Broadsheet scandal.
“Newly formed inquiry committee will find out main characters who illegally benefitted themselves,” said Shibli Faraz, adding the committee
will submit its report in 45 days.
