Who will keep a check on NAB? Shahbaz asks

LAHORE: Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif implied that he knew facts about the National Accountability Bureau which if revealed would put the institution in an awkward situation.

Having said that, he added, that he was ready to be investigated, if the NAB itself also becomes accountable for its actions.

 “We have never stopped NAB from accountability or any action in Punjab,” the chief minister said at an informal discussion during a dinner at the residence of Overseas Pakistanis Commission Vice-Commissioner Shaheen Butt. Expatriate Pakistani businessmen and industrialists also attended the event.

The chief minister said the NAB in Punjab had carried out probe into many matters – including LDA City – which proved to be transparent.

Talking about the Orange Line Train, he said it would provide transport service to hundreds of thousands of citizens.

Shahbaz explained the objection that the large amount being spent on Orange Line should be used on education and health was negative, as China had given the money only for the Orange Line.

He said the Punjab government would have to pay only Rs8 billion for 20 years to return the loan obtained for the state-of-art project. “We are already spending Rs550 billion on health and around Rs250 billion on education.

Answering a question, Shahbaz said the basic structure of Orange Line was scheduled to be completed in six months after which the problems related to pollution and traffic would come to an end.

About the execution of Mumtaz Qadri, he said it was purely a judicial decision.