Former federal minister and Awami Muslim League (AML) chief Sheikh Rasheed excused himself from appearing before the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in the National Crime Agency’s (NCA) £190 million settlement case and termed the NAB notice to him unjustified and illegal, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.
The AML chief said in his answer, which he submitted to the NAB through his lawyer Sardar Shehbaz, that he had received the NAB notice as a witness for investigations into the Al-Qadir Trust case.
“I have already informed twice in writing that I have nothing to do with the case, and I am not a witness. I had left before the Al-Qadir Trust matter was raised in the cabinet meeting on December 3, 2019,” he said.
“I do not have any information or evidence regarding the Al-Qadir Trust case. My relations with Shahzad Akbar were not good, and there was no communication between us either. I don’t have any proof or document regarding the Al-Qadir Trust case,” he added.
“Despite replying to all the notices, the same notice was sent again which was not required. Your notices are becoming a cause of my harassment. At present, activities of revenge politics are being carried out by the opponents, of which I am also a victim,” he stated.
“There is no case against me yet the police are raiding my house and the houses of my relatives and friends. My movement is restricted, so I can’t appear before the NAB. I am submitting the answer for the NAB attention,” he added.
“I have already told twice that I do not know anything about the case. The NAB notice is unjustified and illegal. It is requested that the NAB withdraw its notice,” he demanded.
Meanwhile, the NAB Rawalpindi summoned former federal ministers – Faisal Vawda, Ali Zaidi, Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui and Farogh Naseem in the NCA’s £190 million settlement case on September 14.
The former federal ministers were directed to appear before a joint investigation team of the NAB along with the records.
Reporter: Usman Khan